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ransack

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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WOTD – 21 December 2025

Etymology

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The verb is derived from Middle English ransaken (“to examine, investigate; to rob, plunder, steal; to search, seek; to treat roughly, mistreat”),[1] from Old Norse rannsaka (“to search a house (especially for stolen goods)”), from rann (“house”) (from Proto-Germanic *razną (“dwelling, house”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to rest; quiet”)) + saka, an ablaut variant of sœkja, sǿkja (“to look for, search, seek”) (from Proto-Germanic *sōkijaną (“to look for, seek”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂g- (“to follow; to seek out, trace”)).[2]

Verb senses 1.2 (“to search (someone, or a place) thoroughly in order to steal something”), 1.3 (“to search for and steal (something) as plunder”), and 2.2 (“to search for and steal things”) are probably influenced by sack (“to pillage, to plunder”).[2]

The noun is derived from the verb.[3]

cognates

Pronunciation

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Verb

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ransack (third-person singular simple present ransacks, present participle ransacking, simple past and past participle ransacked)

  1. (transitive)
    1. To search (a place, through things, etc.) thoroughly, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray.
      Synonym: rifle [through]
      • 1529 (date written), Thomas More, “The Supplication of Soules […]”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 336, column 1:
        What a ſorowe hath it been to ſome of vs when the deuils hath in deſpightfull mockage, caſt in our teeth our olde loue borne to our money, and then ſhewed vs our executours as buſily ryfling ⁊ ranſaking our houſes as though they wer men of warre that had taken a towne by force.
      • 1530 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), Iohan Palsgraue [i.e., John Palsgrave], “The Table of Verbes”, in Lesclarcissement de la langue francoyse⸝ […], [London]: […] [Richard Pynson] fynnysshed by Iohan Haukyns, →OCLC, 3rd boke, folio cccxxxii, verso, column 2; reprinted Geneva: Slatkine Reprints, October 1972, →OCLC:
        He hath ranſaked all the chyſtes I haue for his beades: […]
      • 1799–1805 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Book V. Books.”, in The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind; an Autobiographical Poem, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 117:
        She [a hen] scratches, ransacks up the earth for food, / Which they [chicks] partake at pleasure.
    3. To search (someone or a place) thoroughly in order to steal something, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray; hence, to rob (someone or a place); to plunder.
      (to search a place to steal): Synonyms: loot, pillage, rifle [through], sack
      to ransack a house for valuables
      • c. 1522 (date written), Thomas More, “A Treatyce (Vnfynyshed) vppon These Wordes of Holye Scrypture, Memorare Nouissima, & Ineternum non Peccabis, Remember the Last Thynges, and Thou shalt Neuer Synne. […]. Of Couertise.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, column 94:
        If they thought howe ſoone in what painefull plight they ſhall lye a dying, while theyr executours afore their face ranſake vp theyr ſackes, they woulde I wene ſhortly empty theyr ſackes themſelues.
      • c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida. The Prologue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC:
        In Troy there lyes the Scene: From Iles of Greece / The Princes Orgillous, their high blood chaf'd / Haue to the Port of Athens ſent their ſhippes / […] their vovv is made / To ranſacke Troy, vvithin vvhoſe ſtrong emures / The rauiſh'd Helen, Menelaus Queene, / VVith vvanton Paris ſleepes, and that's the Quarrell.
      • 1689, [Charles Goodall], “To the Ingenious Mr. Barker. Saul’s Witch of Endor.”, in Poems and Translations, Written upon Several Occasions, and to Several Persons. […], London: […] Henry Bonwicke, […], →OCLC, page 88:
        VVhy, raiſing Tumults thus among the Just, / Offer'ſt thou Violence to my ſacred Duſt? / VVhy ranſackeſt my Grave? and ſummon'ſt me / From my Long Home, Seat of Eternitie?
      • 1821, Robert Southey, “Preparations of the Governor of Venezuela—Aguirre’s Letter to the King—Desertion of His Men—His Death”, in The Expedition of Orsua; and the Crimes of Aguirre, London: […] [A[ndrew] and R[obert] Spottiswoode] for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […], →OCLC, page 191:
        Here Aguirre took up his lodging, and here he kept his men ready for battle, till the night came on, […] then he permitted them to ransack the town.
      • 2019 October 30, Next Level Games, Luigi’s Mansion 3, v1.4.0, Nintendo, level/area: Main Observation Room (15F: Master Suite):
        You ransacked my hotel, captured my staff with that strange vacuum of yours … And to top it all off, you catnapped my sweetie, my little darling … My precious Polterkitty!
    5. (chiefly passive voice) To search for and steal (something) as plunder.
    6. (figurative, archaic) To examine (someone or something) carefully; to investigate; also, to question (someone) thoroughly; to interrogate.
      • 1533 (date written), Thomas More, “The Apology of Syr Thomas More Knight, Made by Hym .Anno. 1533. after that He had Geuen ouer Thoffice of Lord Chauncellour of Englande. Chapter XLIJ.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published 30 April 1557, →OCLC, page 912, column 1:
        […] I purpoſe not in any open engliſh booke to ranſake and rebuke eyther the tone [the one] lawe, or the tother: I ſhall let him with that matter alone.
      • 1657, Dr. Gouge [William Gouge?; et al.], “Annotations on the Book of Job. [Chap[ter] XIII.]”, in Annotations upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament: […], 3rd edition, London: […] Evan Tyler, →OCLC, [signature 5H3], column 1:
        And like an angry Judge reſolved to condemn, thou ranſackeſt all my life, and paſſeſt an heavie ſentence upon me for ſinnes long ſince committed, […].
      • 1694, Robert South, “A Discourse against Long Extemporary Prayers: In a Sermon on Ecclesiastes V. 2.”, in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions. […], volume II, London: […] J[ohn] H[eptinstall] for Thomas Bennet […], →OCLC, pages 133–134:
        Conſider next, his [God's] Infinite, All-ſearching Knovvledge, vvhich looks through and through the moſt ſecret of our Thoughts, ranſacks every corner of the Heart, ponders the moſt invvard deſigns and ends of the Soul in all a man's Actions.
      • a. 1709 (date delivered), William Beveridge, “Sermon LXXXV. Repentance, a Certain, and the Only Method of Obtaining Pardon.”, in The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. William Beveridge, Late Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. […], volume II, London: […] William Taylor, […], published 1720, →OCLC, page 69:
        [A]lthough thou beeſt blameleſs and unſpotted as to thy outvvard Life and Converſation, ſo that none can ſay, black is thine Eye, as to any groſs Sin; yet knovv, that God pondereth thy Heart, and ranſacketh every Corner of thy Soul, and obſerves the Motions of thoſe very Luſts that vvar vvithin thee, and prevail againſt thee.
      • 1738, [Samuel Johnson], London: A Poem. In Imitation of the Third Satire of Juvenal. […], 2nd edition, London: […] [Thomas Ruddiman] for R[obert] Dodsley, […], →OCLC, page 12:
        For Arts like theſe preferr'd, admir'd, careſt, / They firſt invade your Table, then your Breaſt; / Explore your Secrets vvith inſidious Art, / VVatch the vveak Hour, and ranſack all the Heart; […]
      • 1740, Colley Cibber, chapter XVI, in An Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber, […], London: […] John Watts for the author, →OCLC, page 323:
        The Reader may, novv, plainly ſee, that I am ranſacking my Memory, for ſuch remaining Scraps of Theatrical Hiſtory, as may not, perhaps, be vvorth his Notice: […]
      • 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Minister in a Maze”, in The Scarlet Letter, a Romance, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, →OCLC, page 268:
        She ransacked her conscience,—which was full of harmless little matters, like her pocket or her work-bag,—and took herself to task, poor thing, for a thousand imaginary faults; […]
      • 1872 February 17 (date delivered), John Ruskin, “Lecture IV. The Function in Art and Science of the Virtue Called by the Greeks Σοφροσύνη.”, in The Eagle’s Nest. Ten Lectures on the Relation of Natural Science to Art, Given before the University of Oxford in Lent Term, 1872 (The Works of John Ruskin; IV), London: […] [F]or the author, by Smith, Elder & Co., […]; and sold by Mr. G[eorge] Allen, […], published 1872, →OCLC, paragraph 66, page 68:
        In astronomy, the fields of the sky have not yet, indeed, been ransacked by the most costly instruments; […]
      • 1927 June, William Byron Mowery, “Pirates Of The Muskeg […]. Chapter IV.”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume XCI, number 1, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], →OCLC, page 6, column 2:
        Dreams do not materialize in flesh and blood before a man! He ransacked his memory for a clew to that haunting familiarity. He tried to make himself believe it was just a crazy, senseless notion. But it persisted; he could not shake it off.
    7. (obsolete)
      1. To look for or seek out (someone).
        • a. 1645 (date written), Fra[ncis] Quarles, The Virgin Widow. A Comedie, London: […] R[ichard] Royston, […], published 1649, →OCLC, Act II, page 33:
          I'le call ye to Accompt, and if ye bauke me, then / I ranſake ye out, and make ye underſtand / The ſharp-nail'd language of Quiſquilla's hand.
      2. To search (someone) for a thing.
      3. (figurative) Synonym of penetrate (“to make way into the interior of (something); to pierce”); also, synonym of pervade (“to enter and spread through (something); to permeate”).
  2. (intransitive)
    1. To search thoroughly, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray.
      • 1573, George Gascoigne, “Gascoignes Deuise of a Maske for the Right Honorable Viscount Mountacute [Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montagu?], […]”, in A Hundreth Sundrie Flowres Bounde up in One Small Poesie. […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman and Henry Middleton for] Richarde Smith, →OCLC, page 389:
        Then euery chriſtian ſought amongſt vs for his frende, / His kinſman or companion ſome ſuccour them to lende: / And as they ranſackte ſo, lo God his will it was, / A noble wyſe Venetian by me did chaunce to paſſe: […]
      • 1608, [Guillaume de Salluste] Du Bartas, “[Du Bartas His First Week, or Birth of the World: […].] The Fift Daie of the First Week.”, in Josuah Sylvester, transl., Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Humfrey Lownes [and are to be sold by Arthur Iohnson […]], published 1611, →OCLC, pages 133–134:
        [W]e rive / Our Mother Earth; and, not contented vvith / Th' abundant gifts ſhe outvvard offereth, / VVith ſacrilegious Tools vve rudely rend her, / And ranſak deeply in her boſom tender, / VVhile vnder ground vvee live in hourly fear / VVhen the frail Mines ſhall over-vvhelm vs there: […]
    3. (archaic) To search for and steal things.

Conjugation

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Conjugation of ransack
infinitive (to) ransack
present tense past tense
1st-person singular ransack ransacked
2nd-person singular ransack, ransackest† ransacked, ransackedst†
3rd-person singular ransacks, ransacketh† ransacked
plural ransack
subjunctive ransack ransacked
imperative ransack —
participles ransacking ransacked

† Archaic or obsolete.

Synonyms

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  • ramshack (chiefly African-American Vernacular in Midland US, Southern US)
  • ransackle, ranshackle (archaic except Northern England, Scotland)

Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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ransack (plural ransacks)

  1. Synonym of ransacking (“an act of ransacking (“searching thoroughly (in order to steal); etc.”) someone or something; an eager search”).

Translations

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References

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  1. ^ “ransaken, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 “ransack, v.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2025; “ransack, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  3. ^ “ransack, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2023.

Further reading

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Anagrams

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