1Attempt to find (something)

1. 1.1 Attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something)
   the new regime sought his extradition

   no object, with infinitive her parents had never sought to interfere with her freedom

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Recognizing the limitations of art education in the United States, Coleman sought training in Paris.
   • The applicant also seeks leave to challenge the sentence.
   • He advised couples who suspected they may be growing apart to seek counselling early.
   • Trained as a psychiatric nurse, she suggests there are social reasons why parents today are actively seeking outside advice.
   • The company has been actively seeking clarification regarding the status of the company.
   • In none of the transfer cases which have been cited to us had the consent of the man been sought or obtained.
   • In addition, regardless of any possibilities for dialogue, it was never clear whether the regime actively sought a complete cessation of violence.
   • It was the interview he had been seeking for three years.
   • He's agreed to seek counseling, but I believe it's too late.
   • In such situations, it is understandable that parents should seek an explanation, in a vain attempt at closure.
   • They seek to establish their own state to oppress people, legally and officially.
   • Despite this, many people do not seek help for their problems.
   • In addition to the claim for prerogative relief, the prosecutor also seeks an injunction against the third respondent.
   • The council said it would not pursue legal costs against parents who sought a judicial review on the closure.
   • Your willingness to seek training beyond the studio's requirements sends a very strong message.
   • They are an incredibly valuable resource to a transforming Army that has desired and sought adaptive capacity in its leaders.
   • As such, only verbal consent was sought and obtained.
   • I will hear argument on whether the injunction should be extended pending any appeal, if permission to appeal is sought and obtained.
   • The British government then sought his extradition on charges relating to offences committed 20 years ago.
   • These were representatives of a bankrupt regime that sought salvation in a turn towards capitalism.

   Synonyms

   try to obtain, pursue, go after, strive for, go for, push towards, work towards, be intent on, aim at/for, have as a goal, have as an objective

   try, attempt, endeavour, strive, work, aim, aspire, do one's best, set out

   formal essay
2. 1.2 Ask for (something) from someone.
   he sought help from the police

   Example sentencesExamples

   • I have not yet sought medical advice, but propose to do so.
   • However, if parents do have concerns about their child's health, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
   • I've tried to get him to accept my advice that he should seek medical help, but he persists.
   • Initially, her behaviour went unnoticed and the first time she sought medical help was when she asked her mother to bring her to the doctor.
   • Today the opposite applies: the patient seeks information and advice and then decides on the treatment he or she would like.
   • If skin is badly torn or if bleeding persists, apply pressure to stop the bleeding, then seek medical help.
   • It is thought that fewer than 20% of sufferers with moderate to severe symptoms have sought medical advice.
   • In May, he turned up in Baghdad seeking medical treatment, U.S. officials later learned.
   • People concerned should seek medical attention when early symptoms set in.
   • A constant feeling of tiredness nagged at him and eventually he sought medical help.
   • The mother thinks the problem may be the girl's tongue, so they went to the hospital, seeking medical intervention.
   • A deaf person, more often than not, delays seeking medical help, partly due to the wrong notion that his condition is incurable.
   • The police could have sought medical attention for Paul.
   • They had to go from pillar to post, seeking assistance for medical attention and subsequent rehabilitation.
   • He was spurred by discovering that he had prostate cancer, which was completely cured because he sought medical help straight away.
   • If your kid starts complaining about any of the obvious symptoms the last thing you want to do is encourage the behavior by seeking medical attention.
   • After World War II, many Canadians actively sought the advice and intervention of psychologists to solve their everyday problems.
   • Many affected people do not seek help from professionals.
   • If anything serious happens to you or a person for whom you have responsibility, or you have any medical concerns, you should seek advice from a medical professional.
   • Following advice from a teacher, Smriti sought medical help but the doctor did not tell her that her son was suffering from schizophrenia.

   Synonyms

   ask for, request, solicit, call on, invite, entreat, beg for, petition for, appeal for, apply for, put in for
3. 1.3seek someone/something out Search for and find someone or something.
   it's his job to seek out new customers

   Example sentencesExamples

   • People were asked to reapply and new presenters were sought out.
   • Clubs and societies all over the country are organising fundraisers and shops and pubs have buckets organised that they don't need to shake or rattle - customers seek them out to make their donation.
   • If the crop does not remove all these nutrients, lower rates are applied or alternative fields are sought out.
   • Rather, such evidence is not unearthed because of the lack of the will to seek it out.
   • With post-war prosperity, the baby boom, and increased college attendance, the masses started coming, whether the museums sought them out or not.
   • A suitably manual project for the day is sought out.
   • There is a pattern of not ensuring that those responsible for criminal acts have been sought out and brought before the law.
   • Through successful marketing programs, these companies have acquired loyal customer bases willing to seek them out and buy their brands on-line.
   • A customer who seeks you out through the Internet is another story.
   • Old Chicago execs decided not to push wine by the bottle, though bottles are available if customers seek it out.
   • Journalists from other papers can confirm that I never sought them out.
   • Either they sought the site out, or they followed a link that interests them.
   • Mr Hughes was critical of the Government for the way in which foreign nurses have been sought out and employed at times of crisis, only to be let go again a short time later.
   • The very best of that international expertise was sought out and hired, a move which proved invaluable.
   • I wonder whether I sought them out as friends because of it.
   • Many cards were outdated as people moved to new jobs, forcing him to seek them out before starting all over again.
   • Far from being regarded as nutty they were sought out as sages or holy men.
   • The truth is, I sought you out because I knew you wouldn't talk to me.
   • He had searched near 10 islands, seeking her out.
   • I had always known them to be a very, very consistent advocate for civil liberties, but we disagreed on so many issues that I never really sought them out in terms of an ally.

   Synonyms

   discover, detect, find, find out, hunt down, hunt out, unearth, uncover, disinter, turn up, dig up, seek out, ferret out, root out, nose out, bring to light, expose, recover, capture, catch, smell out, sniff out, run to earth, run to ground, run down
4. 1.4archaic Go to (a place)
   I sought my bedroom each night to brood over it