quest

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwest 

1

a

: a jury of inquest

b

: investigation

2

: an act or instance of seeking:

a

: pursuit, search

b

: a chivalrous enterprise in medieval romance usually involving an adventurous journey

3

obsolete : a person or group of persons who search or make inquiry

quest

2 of 2

verb

quested; questing; quests

intransitive verb

1

of a dog

a

: to search a trail

b

: bay

2

: to go on a quest

transitive verb

1

: to search for

2

: to ask for

quester noun

Synonyms

Noun

• hunt
• search

Verb

• call (for)
• claim
• clamor (for)
• command
• demand
• enjoin
• exact
• insist (on)
• press (for)
• stipulate (for)

Examples of quest in a Sentence

Noun

They went on a quest for gold.

The team's quest to win a championship finally came to an end.

He refuses to give up his quest to discover the truth.

Verb

They were questing for gold.

I respectfully quest your assistance in this matter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969, is a milestone in the quest for LGB civil rights and provided momentum for a movement. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025

In the fall of 1942, Ambassador Winant, who had assisted Stimson’s quest to join the RAMC, solicited her support in trying to change the U.S. military’s attitude toward women doctors. —Catherine Musemeche, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Verb

Similarly, in the 1880s, Richard Wagner wrote the second act of his opera Parsifal, the tale of a questing Arthurian knight, in Ravello. —airmail.news, 6 July 2024

That’s a shame, because Nichols’ passionate vision of alienated American men, tragically in search of purpose, questing for freedom, couldn’t be timelier. —Steven Gaydos, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French queste, Vulgar Latin *quaesta, from Latin, feminine of quaestus, past participle of quaerere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing quest

• in quest of
• vision quest

Kids Definition

quest

1 of 2 noun

ˈkwest 

1

: an act or instance of seeking

2

a

: search entry 2

in quest of game

b

: an adventurous journey by a knight in a tale of olden days

quest

2 of 2 verb

1

: to go on a quest : seek

2

: to search for : pursue

3

: to ask for : demand