the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
"the determination of molecular structures"
the decision of a court on issues of fact or law
"The jury's finding regarding whether the defendant was acting in self-defense became the basis for the final verdict."
something that is found
"the findings in the gastrointestinal tract indicate that he died several hours after dinner"
"an area rich in archaeological findings"
A result of research or an investigation.
"The team's latest finding suggests that the ancient city was abandoned due to a sudden shift in climate patterns."
In plain English: A finding is something you discover during an investigation or search.
"The final piece of the puzzle was our greatest finding after hours of searching."
Usage: Use "finding" to describe the specific conclusion reached during a study, survey, or official inquiry. It refers to what was discovered rather than the general act of searching for something.
present participle of find
"The teacher was finding it difficult to keep up with all the questions from the students."
In plain English: To find something means to locate it after you have lost it or cannot see where it is.
"She was finding it hard to remember his name after so many years."
Usage: Do not use "finding" as a standalone noun to mean an object or discovery; instead, use it only as the present participle of the verb "find." When you need a noun for a discovered item, use "finding," but when describing the act of locating something, keep it as "finding" in continuous tenses like "I am finding clues."
The word finding comes from the Middle English fyndyng and Old English findincge, which were formed by adding a suffix meaning "action of" to the verb find. It entered modern usage as a straightforward noun describing the act or result of discovering something.