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seek

verb
\ ˈsēk How to pronounce seek (audio) \
sought\ ˈsȯt How to pronounce sought (audio) \; 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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Other Words from seek

seeker noun

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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Now, borrowers seeking loan forgiveness will have much higher hurdles. — BostonGlobe.com, "Deadline placed on loan claims for students defrauded by colleges," 2 Sep. 2019 Motorists seeking up-to-date information can visit the Facebook page KPB Alerts for the most recent information or the Department of Transportation’s 511 website. — Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, "Sterling Highway open with pilot cars as wet, windy weather calms Swan Lake fire spread," 1 Sep. 2019 The seasonal sushi bar hosts a few heavily sought after seats that have a straight-shot view of the incredible sunset over Bannister's Wharf. — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, "Out of Things to Do in Montauk? Head to Newport, Rhode Island," 31 Aug. 2019 Among the data sought by Benjamin Wiseman, director of consumer protection, was a list of authorized retail stores and third-party online retailers that failed to comply with Juul’s rules for preventing minors from buying and using its products. — Washington Post, "Juul Labs facing scrutiny from federal and state officials," 30 Aug. 2019 The immediate relief being sought by the Michael Jackson Estate is to compel arbitration. — Eriq Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, "Could the Bizarre Legal Fight Over HBO's Michael Jackson Doc Wind Up at the Supreme Court?," 30 Aug. 2019 The general population shelters for evacuees, people living in low-lying areas and for others seeking shelter from the storm are alcohol, drug and weapon free. — Stephen Hudak, orlandosentinel.com, "Hurricane Dorian: Gov. Ron DeSantis says brace for outages as Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings vows, ‘We’re ready’," 30 Aug. 2019 Two emails from the readers’ rep seeking comment from the strip’s syndicate, King Features, went unanswered. — Adrian Vore, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Union-Tribune drops ‘Mallard Fillmore ' comic strip," 30 Aug. 2019 The young girl and her mother traveled from DRC to the Ugandan district of Kasese, seeking medical care on Wednesday. — Bethlehem Feleke And Stephanie Busari, CNN, "Nine-year-old girl tests positive for Ebola in Uganda," 30 Aug. 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.

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First Known Use of seek

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for seek

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

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More Definitions for seek

seek

verb
How to pronounce seek (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of seek

somewhat formal
: to search for (someone or something) : to try to find (someone or something)
: to ask for (help, advice, etc.)
: to try to get or achieve (something)

See the full definition for seek in the English Language Learners Dictionary

seek

verb
\ ˈsēk How to pronounce seek (audio) \
sought\ ˈsȯt \; seeking

Kids Definition of seek

1 : to try to find seek help … foxes called to each other, seeking again their lifelong mates.— Jean Craighead George, My Side of the Mountain
2 : to try to win or get He sought revenge.
3 : to make an attempt Doctors are seeking to find a cure.

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