seek

1 of 2

verb

ˈsēk 

sought ˈsȯt  ; seeking

transitive verb

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

In the twentieth century, international treaties and institutions sought to ban war …

—Lauren Benton

intransitive verb

1

: to make a search or inquiry

2

a

: to be sought

b

: to be lacking

seeker noun

seeker

2 of 2

noun

seek·​er

-kə(r)

plural -s

: one that seeks or is used in seeking

a tone more suggestive of the scientific seeker for the truth

—B. N. Cardozo

: such as

a

usually capitalized : one of a small group of the English Independents who claimed religious liberty, who professed to seek further revelation as to the true church, ministry, and sacraments, and many of whom joined the Friends

b

: a slender instrument that has a smooth rounded end and is used in dissecting to follow up delicate tubular structures : a slender probe

c

: a device in a missile that is attracted to some form of emission (as light, heat, sound, or radio waves)

also : a missile equipped with such a device

Synonyms of seek

Verb

• pursue

Examples of seek in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

The compromise is mainly symbolic since FCAS is a generic name for such systems and not unique to this plan, but officials have been seeking a formula allowing Macron to relinquish the core fighter without having to declare the whole project dead. —CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Many of the region’s politicians, including Raman herself, sought her endorsement. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Explosions could be heard in central Israel as air defenses sought to intercept incoming Iranian fire. —Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

Explosions could be heard in central Israel as Israeli air defenses sought to intercept the incoming Iranian fire. —Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English seken, from Old English sēcan; akin to Old High German suohhen to seek, Latin sagus prophetic, Greek hēgeisthai to lead

Noun

Middle English secher, seker, from sechen, seken to seek + -er

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing seek

• hide-and-go-seek
• hide-and-seek
• seek compensation
• seek damages
• seek one's fortune
• seek out
• seek revenge for
• take/find/seek refuge

Rhymes for seek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

seek

verb

ˈsēk 

sought ˈsȯt  ; 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