1.
to learn a fact, a piece of information or a secret
“I found out the truth.”
“How did you find out?”
“I found out that he was lying.”
Synonyms: to discover, to learn, to uncover
Phrasal verb
What does find out mean?
Meaning: to learn a fact or a piece of information
B1
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Quick answer
Find out = to learn a fact (a piece of information, a secret). I found out the truth = I learnt the truth. It is different from find (to see a lost object again). It is separable, but it is often followed by a that-clause: I found out that…
Meanings of the phrasal verb
2.
to get information about something
common“Can you find out when the next train leaves?”
Synonyms: to inquire, to check
Word order
Separable
The object can go between the verb and the particle. With a pronoun (it, them), it always goes between.
Forms
- Present Simple:
- find out
- Past Simple:
- found out
- Past participle:
- found out
- -ing form:
- finding out
Common mistakes to avoid
Find out is not find
Find = to see a physical object again. Find out = to learn information. I found my keys (an object) / I found out the truth (information). I found out my keys ❌.
Irregular verb: found / found
Find is irregular: find → found → found. I found out yesterday = I learnt it yesterday. Always found (never finded ❌).
Find out + that + clause
It is very often followed by a that-clause: I found out that she lied. When people speak, they often drop that: I found out she lied.
Practice quiz
Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank
Related pages: find out
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
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Frequently asked questions
What does find out mean?+
Find out means to learn a fact, a piece of information or a secret. I found out the truth = I learnt the truth. It is about information, not about finding an object.
What is the difference between find and find out?+
Find = to see or get back a physical object, often one you lost. I found my keys. Find out = to learn information or a secret. I found out the truth. This difference is very important.
Is find out separable?+
In theory, yes, but in practice it is almost always followed by a that-clause (a part of the sentence with its own verb) or a short noun. Find out the truth ✓. With a pronoun: find it out ✓ (but this is rare).
How do you use find out about?+
Use find out about + a subject to get information. Can you find out about the timetable? = can you get information about the times? You can also use find out when / how / why + a clause: find out when the train leaves.
What is the difference between find out and discover?+
They mean almost the same, with a small difference. Find out is common and spoken (personal information). Discover is more formal, for example in science. Scientists discovered a new planet (an official discovery). I found out my friend lied (personal information).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/phrasal-verbs/find-out
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.