seek

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

Synonyms of seek

• pursue

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

Since he cannot be removed to El Salvador, ICE has been seeking to deport him to a series of African countries. —Arkansas Online, 12 Dec. 2025

Reuveni’s materials include emails sent the night of March 15 as the American Civil Liberties Union sought emergency relief to block the flights. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 12 Dec. 2025

But obsessional online culture has sought to answer questions of origin rather than waving them off. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025

Some say the order — which seeks to override state regulations on AI — might soon be met with legal challenges. —Justin Papp, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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