sought
ˈsȯt 
; seeking
; seeking
1
: to resort to : go to
2
a
: to go in search of : look for
b
: to try to discover
3
: to ask for : request
seeks advice
4
: to try to acquire or gain : aim at
seek fame
5
: to make an attempt : try
—used with to and an infinitive
governments … seek to keep the bulk of their people contented—
D. M. Potter
D. M. Potter1
: to make a search or inquiry
2
a
: to be sought
b
: to be lacking
in critical judgment … they were sadly to seek—The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
seeker
noun
Synonyms
Examples of seek in a Sentence
The office is seeking a salesperson.
The prince is seeking a wife.
Snakes seek the sun to warm their bodies.
You should visit your doctor and seek his advice.
You should seek medical help immediately if you experience any chest pain or shortness of breath.
The church is seeking donations.
He sought revenge for his son's murder.
During the war, she sought asylum in Spain.
They sought refuge in Canada.
The company is seeking new ways to improve service.
Recent Examples on the Web
The new policy will apply to students seeking admission in fall 2025, Harvard said in a statement Thursday, backtracking from an earlier decision to make testing optional for several more years.
—Janet Lorin, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
The emails obtained by TTP mention that Schmidt would be accompanied on his trip by Henry Kissinger, the former national security adviser and US secretary of state who famously sought closer ties with China in the 1970s, during President Nixon’s administration.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024
By contrast, there were nearly 85,000 abortions in Florida in 2023, according to state data, just a few thousand fewer than Illinois, which has positioned itself as a haven for people seeking abortions in the post-Roe era.
—Hilary Fung, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Biden in October sought $634 million for the fund as part of a larger spending request that included money for child care, broadband access and energy security priorities.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
But many people are seeking solutions for what to do while processing the understandable nerves, concern, and overwhelm that come with giving birth in the U. S.
Aina says doulas, like midwives and OB/GYNs, are essential aspects of the team of providers.
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
The city is now seeking applicants for its housing crisis task force.
—Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The trial, with Florida International University, was seeking to use a new, more personalized approach to treat some of the most aggressive cancers in children.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The closer business ties between Washington and Tokyo come as the two countries seek to modernize their political and military alliance.
—Junko Ogura, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Janet Lorin, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
The emails obtained by TTP mention that Schmidt would be accompanied on his trip by Henry Kissinger, the former national security adviser and US secretary of state who famously sought closer ties with China in the 1970s, during President Nixon’s administration.
—Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024
By contrast, there were nearly 85,000 abortions in Florida in 2023, according to state data, just a few thousand fewer than Illinois, which has positioned itself as a haven for people seeking abortions in the post-Roe era.
—Hilary Fung, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Biden in October sought $634 million for the fund as part of a larger spending request that included money for child care, broadband access and energy security priorities.
—Jacob Bogage, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
But many people are seeking solutions for what to do while processing the understandable nerves, concern, and overwhelm that come with giving birth in the U. S.
Aina says doulas, like midwives and OB/GYNs, are essential aspects of the team of providers.
—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
The city is now seeking applicants for its housing crisis task force.
—Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
The trial, with Florida International University, was seeking to use a new, more personalized approach to treat some of the most aggressive cancers in children.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
The closer business ties between Washington and Tokyo come as the two countries seek to modernize their political and military alliance.
—Junko Ogura, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seek.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Cite this Entry
“Seek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seek. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seek
verb
sought
ˈsȯt
; seeking
; seeking
1
: to go to
seek the shade on a sunny day
2
a
: to go in search of : look for
seek out the guilty person
b
: to try to discover
seek the truth
3
: to ask for : request
seeks advice
4
: to try to acquire or gain : aim at
seeking public office
5
: to make an attempt : try
seek to find a way
sought to improve my work
seeker
noun
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