1 B2 idiomatic informal
To discover information that is hidden or difficult to find through persistent searching or investigation.
"The researcher managed to ferret out some fascinating details about the artist's early life."
separable
ferret out
B2 informal separable transitive
To discover or obtain information, a person, or a thing by searching carefully and persistently.
In plain English
To find something hidden or secret by searching very hard until you discover it.
What does "ferret out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To find a person who is hiding or who does not want to be found.
"The police eventually ferreted out the suspect from his hiding place."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To chase a ferret out of a burrow, driving out what is hiding inside.
Actually means
To find something hidden or secret by searching very hard until you discover it.
Usage tip
The most commonly used of the 'ferret' phrasal verbs. Works well for investigative contexts — journalism, detective work, research. Often used with abstracts: 'ferret out the truth/details/information'. The animal metaphor reinforces the idea of going into hidden places to find something.
Words that pair with "ferret out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
truth information details secrets facts culprit
How to conjugate "ferret out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
ferret out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ferrets out
he/she/it
Past simple
ferreted out
yesterday
Past participle
ferreted out
have + pp
-ing form
ferreting out
continuous
Hear "ferret out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "ferret out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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