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to find a way

to find a way

863 3.3
To think of a plan to get past a problem
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : encontrar la manera de
  • We must find a way to solve this problem before the deadline.
  • need to find a way
  • try to find a way
  • find a way to make

And I couldn't find a way through the problems.

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Examples

  • And you have to find a way to break that cycle.

  • So we must find a way to live with it.

  • So you got to find a way to help the team win.

  • We have to find a way to make for peace.

  • So when people want to find a way to meet, they can.

  • Or we can try to find a way to share the planet.

  • We can find a way out of here together.

  • Okay, well, we should find a way to get comfortable, 'cause I think we're gonna be up here for a while.

  • Look, I think I found a way to put real revenue stream behind your research and save thousands of lives in the process.

  • Let's pray they can find a way to get a deal done.

Synonyms

to work out
vsto find a way
950 2.8

To find a solution or plan by thinking carefully

involves devising practical methods to overcome problems rather than only thinking
to work it out
vsto find a way
165 3.2

To find an answer to a problem by thinking or talking

focuses on inventing a method to overcome difficult obstacles
to find a solution
vsto find a way
41 2.7

To think of a way to solve a problem

emphasizes devising methods to achieve goals especially when things are difficult

Antonyms

1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

77 4.2

Giving up after defeat, for example when an army stops fighting

How Practical

to devise
135 4.8
to find a way
863 3.3
to figure out
  • Informal
2.2

Surface Forms

find a way infinitive
finding a way present participle
finds a way third person singular
found a way past participle

Morphology

find + a + way

The meaning 'discover or devise a method' is directly and transparently built from 'find' (to discover) + 'way' (method), with 'a' functioning only as an indefinite article. There is no idiomatic or metaphorical shift here and the composition follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Find a way may come from the image of a person looking for a path when the normal road is blocked. If they find a small way through rocks or trees, they can still get where they want, so the phrase now means 'discover or make a solution' to a problem.