1 C1 idiomatic informal
To manage to find or collect something through diligent searching, especially when it is scarce.
"The organizer tried to scour up enough volunteers for the weekend cleanup event."
separable
scour up
C1 informal separable transitive
To search thoroughly in order to find or collect something; to gather something with effort.
In plain English
To look really hard everywhere until you find or collect something you need.
What does "scour up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To scour (search thoroughly) upward or comprehensively to gather something.
Actually means
To look really hard everywhere until you find or collect something you need.
Usage tip
Relatively rare; more common in American English. Often implies that what is sought is scarce or hard to find. 'Scare up' and 'scrape up' are more commonly used alternatives.
Words that pair with "scour up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
volunteers funds support information supplies evidence
How to conjugate "scour up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scour up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scours up
he/she/it
Past simple
scoured up
yesterday
Past participle
scoured up
have + pp
-ing form
scouring up
continuous
Hear "scour up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "scour up"
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