To manage to find or obtain something with effort, usually by begging, borrowing, or searching
To find or get something even though it's hard to find, sometimes by asking people for it
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To manage to find or gather enough of something (especially money or resources) through effort, begging, or searching
"We scrounged up enough money for a bus ticket home."
I'm trying to scrounge up some cash for a new guitar.
To find or obtain food or supplies by searching or asking others, especially in difficult circumstances
"The campers scrounged up some firewood from around the site."
To find or produce something at short notice, often from unexpected or improvised sources
"Can you scrounge up a spare chair for the meeting?"
Very common in informal American and British English. Implies resourcefulness but also a degree of desperation or reliance on others. Often used with words like 'enough', 'some', or a specific sum of money.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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