seek
/siːk
/verb (past and past participle sought /sɔːt/) [with object]
1Attempt to find (something): they came here to seek shelter from biting winter winds...
- The situation facing some women upon their release, however, is so desolate that they have returned to the prison seeking food and shelter.
- Widespread logging destroyed winter shelter, while lumber-jacks sought the lean meat.
- Dom raced back to Don and explained that there was a boy who sought food and shelter.
Synonyms
search for, try to find, look for, look about/around/round for, cast about/around/round for, be on the lookout for, be after, hunt for, be in quest of, quest (after), be in pursuit of
1.1Attempt 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...
- 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.
- In none of the transfer cases which have been cited to us had the consent of the man been sought or obtained.
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
1.2Ask for (something) from someone: he sought help from the police...
- I've tried to get him to accept my advice that he should seek medical help, but he persists.
- Following advice from a teacher, Smriti sought medical help but the doctor did not tell her that her son was suffering from schizophrenia.
- People concerned should seek medical attention when early symptoms set in.
Synonyms
ask for, request, solicit, call on, invite, entreat, beg for, petition for, appeal for, apply for, put in for
1.3 (seek someone/thing out) Search for and find someone or something: it’s his job to seek out new customers...
- 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.
- Many cards were outdated as people moved to new jobs, forcing him to seek them out before starting all over again.
- Rather, such evidence is not unearthed because of the lack of the will to seek it out.
1.4 archaic Go to (a place): I sought my bedroom each night to brood over it
Phrases
seek dead
seek one's fortune
to seek
Origin
Old English sēcan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zieken and German suchen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sagire 'perceive by scent'.
search from Middle English:
This is from the Old French verb cerchier from late Latin circare ‘go round’, from Latin circus ‘circle’. The main semantic strands are ‘explore thoroughly’ (search the premises) and ‘try to find’ (search out the truth), both of which have been present from the start. In research (late 16th century) the prefix re- is an intensifier of the meaning. The Old English equivalent seek is unconnected, going back to an Indo-European root shared by Latin sagire ‘perceive by scent’.