seek

verb

\ ˈsēk

sought\ ˈsȯt

\; seeking

Definition of seek

transitive verb

1 : to resort to : go to

2a : 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

intransitive verb

1 : to make a search or inquiry

2a : to be sought

b : to be lacking in critical judgment … they were sadly to seek — The Times Literary Supplement (London)

Other Words from seek Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about seek

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Choose the Right Synonym for seek

seek, search, and hunt mean to look for something. seek may be used in looking for either material or mental things. She's always seeking new friends. I seek the truth. search is used when looking for something in a very careful, thorough way. We searched all over the house for the letter. hunt is used for a long pursuit. I hunted all day for the right present.

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

Did former Trump attorney/fixer seek a pardon as well? — Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, "The Week in Washington: Can a Flagpole File a Harassment Lawsuit?," 10 Mar. 2019 The charity seeks to end child labor and support international development. — Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Just Made a Surprise Joint Appearance at WE Day," 6 Mar. 2019 That’s about 13 times the $5.7 billion Trump sought unsuccessfully from Congress to build the wall. — Catherine Lucey, The Seattle Times, "Trump says he has ‘absolute right’ to declare emergency," 20 Feb. 2019 Demonstrators poured into the streets of Algeria’s cities in the largest political protests in years, calling for the departure of an elderly president who is seeking a fifth term after nearly two decades in power. — Jared Malsin, WSJ, "Algerians Stage Rare Protests Against Leader’s Rule," 1 Mar. 2019 English actor Max Irons plays David Castleman, Joe and Joan’s son, who is a frustrated writer seeking his father’s approval. — Marie Milano, Country Living, "What Is 'The Wife' Movie About? Everything to Know About Glenn Close's New Film," 24 Feb. 2019 Today, Morocco is still dealing with poverty, corruption and unemployment that Feb. 20 sought to solve. — Amira El Masaiti, The Seattle Times, "Morocco: Arab Spring anniversary brings reflection, beatings," 20 Feb. 2019 The lawsuits often seek improvements to websites to ensure the technology functions. — Sara Randazzo, WSJ, "Lawsuits Surge Over Websites’ Access for the Blind," 17 Feb. 2019 Now, Lufthansa seeks compensation from the man on the order of $2,385, claiming the airline's been unfairly gamed. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Lufthansa Is Suing a Man For Missing a Connecting Flight," 12 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'seek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.