browse
gb/bɹˈaʊz/ us/bɹˈaʊz/
A2
English
~ 700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Look casually at items
To look at things slowly and without a plan, not trying to choose quickly.
Usage pattern:
to browse [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'browse' with 'search'. 'Browse' is more casual and general, while 'search' is more direct and purposeful.
Synonyms
scan (Implies looking quickly, sometimes for specific information.)
|
peruse (More formal and can mean to read carefully, but in modern use often overlaps with browse.)
Antonyms
focus (Implies giving full attention to one specific thing, opposite of casual looking.)
Collocations
browse the internet
|browse a store
|browse products
|browse websites
|browse the shelves
Themes
shopping
|internet
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She likes to browse the shelves at the bookstore.
- I spent the afternoon browsing online for new shoes.
- We browsed the art gallery for an hour before lunch.
- He browsed a few websites before finding the answer.
- Tourists were browsing the market stalls.
Learner examples
- I like to browse clothes in the shop.
- He is browsing the internet now.
- We browsed in the small store.
- She browses books before she buys them.
Verb
A2
action
2
Look through websites online
To look at different pages on the internet.
Usage pattern:
to browse [the internet/website]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'surf' which is less common in modern usage than 'browse'.
Synonyms
surf (Informal; used mainly for internet browsing.)
Antonyms
log off (To disconnect from or stop using the internet.)
Collocations
browse the web
|browse online
|browse a website
Themes
technology
|internet
|communication
Examples
- He browsed the internet for cooking tips.
- I was browsing a news site when I saw the story.
- She spends hours browsing fashion blogs.
Learner examples
- I browse the web every day.
- He browses online for games.
- We browse a website for news.
Verb
B1
action
3
Animals feed on leaves casually
When animals eat leaves or plants slowly and not all at once.
Usage pattern:
to browse on [plants/leaves]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'browse' with 'graze'. Grazing is usually eating grass; browsing is for higher plants or leaves.
Synonyms
graze (Usually refers to eating grass or low plants; browse is often for leaves or shrubs.)
Antonyms
hunt (Opposite in terms of getting food—hunting for animals instead of eating plants.)
Collocations
browse on grass
|browse for food
Themes
nature
|animals
Examples
- Deer browsed on the young trees.
- The goats were browsing among the bushes.
- Giraffes browse on acacia leaves high in the trees.
Learner examples
- The deer browse on leaves.
- Goats browse in the field.
- Giraffes browse on tall trees.
Noun
A2
action
4
Casual act of looking around
When you look at things slowly without planning to choose quickly.
Synonyms
look around (Very general; can be physical or figurative.)
Antonyms
search (Looking with a clear goal in mind.)
Collocations
have a browse
|go for a browse
Themes
shopping
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I had a quick browse in the shop before meeting her.
- Why don't we go for a browse around town?
- Feel free to have a browse while you wait.
Learner examples
- I have a browse in the shop.
- She goes for a browse in the market.
- We had a browse before lunch.
Grammar
Dictionary form
browse
IPA
GB/bɹˈaʊz/
US/bɹˈaʊz/
Syllables & stress
browse (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (browse)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: browse
- Plural: browses
Verb
- Base: browse
- 3rd Person Singular: browses
- Present Participle: browsing
- Past: browsed
Word family
Forms
browses
noun
browsing
verb
browsed
verb
Core family
browser
noun A2
Expressions
browse through
1/bɹˈaʊz θɹˈu/
phrasal verb
Look quickly through something
To look at parts of something like a book or list without reading it all carefully.
Examples
- She browsed through the magazine while waiting for her friend.
- I browsed through the menu before ordering.
have a browse
1/hˈæv ə bɹˈaʊz/
fixed phrase
Spend time looking casually around
To look at things slowly without planning to choose quickly.
Examples
- Let's have a browse before we decide what to buy.
- I had a browse around the market this morning.