as in search
an act or process of looking carefully or thoroughly for someone or something
the Holy Grail was the object of a mystical quest by the knights of the Round Table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in to demand
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority
I respectfully quest your assistance in this matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pursue
to go in search of
many daydreamers trekked to California questing riches during the great gold rush of 1849
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to seek
to make a request for
please wait until the lecturer specifically quests comments from the audience before chiming in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quest
Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The film is an existential quest that explores how humans seek meaning and self-connection on the fringes of civilization.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Emergency stop buttons had to be relocated so that they couldn’t be pressed by questing cow tongues.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quest
Noun
As detailed by Sportico, the New York Jets have come up short thus far with the USPTO in their quest to trademark Gotham City Football.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The film is an existential quest that explores how humans seek meaning and self-connection on the fringes of civilization.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
Larval black-legged ticks, newly hatched and free of infection, begin questing for their first blood meal.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Emergency stop buttons had to be relocated so that they couldn’t be pressed by questing cow tongues.
—IEEE Spectrum, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quest
Noun
-
Speaking to the Times, divisional forest officer Aditya Narayan said that wildlife personnel have not been successful in tracking down the elephant thus far, but several government and independent agencies from across India have joined the search for the large mammal.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Even as his Reddit-haunting admirers still parse his lyrics for hidden meanings, his spirit surely looks down on them with wry amusement at his fans’ unending search for profundity.—
Alexander Larman,
Time,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump has repeatedly blasted Powell for the Fed not cutting interest rates as much and as quickly as the president has demanded since entering the White House in January 2025.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
-
During a particularly rowdy acid trip, Frisbee wandered into the California desert, stripped naked, and demanded that God reveal himself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The couple’s younger child began pursuing a career in modeling in 2025, celebrating his first official shoot in a December Instagram carousel that year.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Chicago pursued Bregman last offseason, too.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and their families—no matter how much time has passed.—
Nathalie Marie Palacios,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
One of the state's most experienced former lawmakers seeks to return to the Arkansas House, but faces opposition from a first-time candidate unimpressed by the record the veteran left behind.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While filming the scene where Robin (Hawke), Vickie (Amybeth McNulty), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Max (Sadie Sink) are hiding in the laundry room while the demodogs hunt Max, Hawke pointed out to Levy that her relationship status wasn't clear.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Around 80% of workers feel unprepared for the job hunt in 2026, new LinkedIn research finds.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jessica Ranucci, a lawyer in the New York Attorney General’s office, said in the Friday hearing, which was conducted by telephone, that at least four of the states had already had money delayed after requesting it.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Twin Cities,
10 Jan. 2026
-
With a general manager now in place, the Dolphins on Friday night called to express interest in former Ravens coach John Harbaugh and also requested interviews with three NFL assistant coaches, according to league sources.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cu also disputed prosecutors’ claims that the defendants caused up to $300,000 in damage.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
At the heart of the discussion was a dispute over the legitimacy of a report that claimed Deerfield Beach would save millions of dollars by creating its own independent police and fire rescue operations.—
Carlton Gillespie,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If a development project met certain standards set by the state, local officials would be required to approve it.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The length of cold required to break dormancy in any particular tree species depends on both the length of typical winter and the variability of winter temperature patterns where a species evolved.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quest. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share