- to search through every part of (a house, box, etc); examine thoroughly
- to plunder; pillage
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ran•sack /ˈrænsæk/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to search thoroughly and vigorously through:We ransacked the shelves and dresser drawers for the lost money.
- to search through so as to rob:The burglars ransacked the house.
ran•sack
(ran′sak),USA pronunciation v.t.
ran′sack•er, n.
- to search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.):They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
- to search through for plunder;
pillage:The enemy ransacked the entire town.
- Old Norse rannsaka to search, examine (for evidence of crime), equivalent. to rann house + saka search (variant of soekja to seek)
- Middle English ransaken 1200–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ransack /ˈrænsæk/ vb (transitive)
'ransack' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):