found out about

USAGE SUMMARY

"found out about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about discovering information about something. For example: I found out about the party on Tuesday.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We found out about it when the rest of the world found out about it".

The New York Times - Sports

"We found out about them and brought them home.

The New York Times

Somehow your parents never found out about your addiction.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The U.S. found out about it.

Forbes

"We found out about it pretty much straight away".

BBC

We found out about those guys.

Vice

Sam found out about me.

The New York Times

My parents just found out about it.

The New York Times - Arts

Somehow you'd found out about the photos.

The Economist

I found out about this last evening.

The New York Times

"I found out about it on Thursday.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "found out about" when you want to express the act of discovering information, often unexpectedly or through investigation.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "found out about" (past tense, indicating a completed action) with "find out" (present tense, indicating an action to be done). For example, use "I found out about the meeting yesterday" and not "I find out about the meeting yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "found out about" is a verb phrase indicating the action of discovering or learning information. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it used to convey how knowledge was acquired, often unexpectedly.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "found out about" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the act of discovering information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to inform about the acquisition of knowledge. While versatile, writers should be mindful of its past tense form and avoid confusion with "find out". Alternatives like "learned about" or "discovered" can provide subtle variations in tone or formality. Mastering the use of "found out about" enhances clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Learned about

Replaces "found out" with "learned", offering a slight variation in tone but maintaining the same meaning.

Discovered

This is a more concise, single-word alternative, useful when brevity is desired.

Became aware of

This is a more formal way of saying "found out about", suitable for professional contexts.

Heard about

Specifically implies that the information was received verbally or through communication.

Came to know

A slightly more literary or old-fashioned way of saying "found out about".

Determined

Indicates a more active and deliberate process of finding something out.

Ascertained

A formal and less common synonym for finding something out, implies careful investigation.

Realized

Focuses on the moment of understanding or realization, rather than the process of finding out.

Detected

Suggests uncovering something previously hidden or unnoticed.

Uncovered

Similar to "detected", but implies a more extensive search or investigation.

FAQs

What does "found out about" mean?

The phrase "found out about" means to discover or learn information concerning a particular topic, person, or event. It implies the acquisition of knowledge that was previously unknown.

How can I use "found out about" in a sentence?

You can use "found out about" in a sentence like this: "I "found out about" the new policy during the meeting."

What's the difference between "found out" and "found out about"?

"Found out" can be used more generally to mean 'discovered', while "found out about" specifically implies discovering information related to something or someone. For example, "I found out he was lying" vs. "I found out about his past."

What are some alternatives to "found out about"?

Some alternatives include "learned about", "discovered", or "became aware of", depending on the specific context.