finding

Pluralfindings

1. 1
   research resultnouncountable

   A conclusion or result reached through research or an investigation.

   The study's central finding challenged decades of accepted theory.

   Researchers published their findings in a leading medical journal.

   UsageUsually plural: researchers publish or report their findings. The singular often has main, key or central: the main finding.

   Similarresult, conclusion, outcome

2. 2
   discoveringverb

   Present participle and gerund of find.

   He is finding his new job more rewarding than expected.

   We are finding that customers prefer the simpler design.

   Note

   Here the word is still a verb and takes objects and clauses: finding a key, finding that customers prefer something. In the progressive, is finding often means reaching a conclusion through experience rather than locating an object. The gerund shares its spelling with the noun, and the research sense is that verbal noun settled into a thing. Once it takes the, a or a plural ending, it is the noun. Source

   Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • The research noun finding is derived from the verb find with the noun-forming suffix -ing. en.wiktionary.org
3. 3
   discovered objectnouncountable

   Something that has been found; a discovery.

   Each finding from the excavation was cleaned, labeled, and photographed before it left the site.

   Most findings from the Roman villa, chiefly pottery and coins, went to the regional museum.

   UsageOften plural, as in findings from a dig or site. For objects dug up, finds is also common.

   Similardiscovery

4. 4
   official rulingnouncountable

   A formal conclusion reached by a judge, jury, or regulatory agency on questions of fact.

   The court's finding of negligence led to a large damages award.

   The commission's finding that the company had broken pricing rules led to a heavy fine.

   UsageUsually a finding of + noun (a finding of fact, of negligence) or a finding that + clause.

   Similarruling, verdict, decision, determination

   Note

   In law the word narrows. A finding settles a question of fact (what happened, who did what) and stays separate from rulings on the law itself. Unlike the research sense, it carries official weight, because later rulings and awards rest on it.

Showing meanings only. Show all 7