ransacking

Verb

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

1. (transitive) To search (a place, through things, etc.) thoroughly, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray.
   • 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.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...

   Synonyms:

   rifle

2. (transitive) 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 ransack a house for valuables

   Synonyms:

   loot, pillage, rifle, sack

3. (transitive, chiefly passive voice) To search for and steal (something) as plunder.
   • VVith greedy force he gan the fort aſſayle, / VVhereof he vveend poſſeſſe ſoone to bee, / And vvin rich ſpoile of ranſackt chaſtitee.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 5, pages 76–77
4. (archaic, figuratively, transitive) To examine (someone or something) carefully; to investigate; also, to question (someone) thoroughly; to interrogate.
   • […] 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.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...
5. (obsolete, transitive) To look for or seek out (someone).
   • 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.a. 1645 (date written), Fra[ncis] Quarles, The Virgin Widow. A Comedie, London: […] R[ichard] Royston, […], published 1649, →OCLC, Act II, page 33
6. (obsolete, transitive) To search (someone) for a thing.

See all 10 meanings of ransack