Scavenge

To scavenge is to search for and collect (typically discarded or unwanted items) from a waste or refuse, often for consumption, reuse, or sale. This implies a careful and often diligent search, exploring areas where such items might be found, such as rubbish bins, deserted buildings, or battlefields. The process is often associated with poverty or necessity, though it can also be a hobby or a means of resourcefulness. The object of the search is usually items of value, be they usable materials, food, or objects that might be sold or traded. It is a behaviour of taking what is discarded.

Scavenge meaning with examples

• After the hurricane, displaced residents scavenged through the debris for any salvageable belongings, hoping to find something to rebuild their lives with. They found scraps of metal and fabric. These scavengers had no help or aid from emergency response teams.
• Homeless people often scavenge through dumpsters behind restaurants and supermarkets, looking for discarded food to survive. The effort is often arduous and dangerous, sometimes leading to confrontations with the law or injuries.
• Archaeologists scavenge the ruins of ancient civilizations, painstakingly collecting artifacts and remnants of the past to reconstruct historical narratives. These objects tell stories to give the past more light.
• Following the fire, the family bravely scavenged their burnt-out home for any remaining photographs or cherished mementos that might have survived the devastation. They held on to hope.