sought
ˈsȯt 
; seeking
; seeking
1
: to resort to : go to
2
a
: 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
D. M. Potter1
: to make a search or inquiry
2
a
: to be sought
b
: to be lacking
in critical judgment … they were sadly to seek—The Times Literary Supplement (London)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)
seeker
noun
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
In May 2023, the Biden administration ended a pandemic-era policy under which migrants were denied the right to seek asylum and were rapidly returned to Mexico.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Philadelphia has been seeking nothing more than punching a ticket to the lottery.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025
By embracing experimentation, while fostering a psychologically safe culture, and actively seeking ways to encourage collaboration, managers can be strategically resilient and prepare their teams to navigate the complexities of today’s business environment.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Yet casino operators deliberately seek locations near large immigrant — and particularly Asian — communities and even provide free transportation and slot machine vouchers to lure low-income gamblers.
—Aimee Rosato, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seek
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.
Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Philadelphia has been seeking nothing more than punching a ticket to the lottery.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2025
By embracing experimentation, while fostering a psychologically safe culture, and actively seeking ways to encourage collaboration, managers can be strategically resilient and prepare their teams to navigate the complexities of today’s business environment.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Yet casino operators deliberately seek locations near large immigrant — and particularly Asian — communities and even provide free transportation and slot machine vouchers to lure low-income gamblers.
—Aimee Rosato, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for seek
Cite this Entry
“Seek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seek. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
seek
verb
sought
ˈsȯt
; seeking
; seeking
1
: to go to
seek the shade on a sunny day
2
a
: to go in search of : look for
seek out the guilty person
b
: to try to discover
seek the truth
3
: to ask for : request
seeks advice
4
: to try to acquire or gain : aim at
seeking public office
5
: to make an attempt : try
seek to find a way
sought to improve my work
seeker
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share