seek

verb

sought ˈsȯt How to pronounce seek (audio) ; seeking

transitive verb

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 contentedD. M. Potter

intransitive verb

1
: to make a search or inquiry
2
a
: to be sought
b
: to be lacking
in critical judgment … they were sadly to seekThe 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
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.
With global travel surging, more people are seeking unique, immersive experiences, especially among millennials and travelers from Generation Z, who are foregoing Instagram-worthy, picture-perfect hotspots and seeking more authentic, local cultural escapes. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025 Trump has sought to fire thousands of federal workers, dismantle independent agencies, end birthright citizenship and impose tariffs on countries that have a trade deficit with the U.S. or have aggrieved him in some other way. Zac Anderson, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025 But Republican lawmakers have for years feared that a future governor — or cities and counties — might, and have sought to block such a rule. Katherine Jones, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2025 Starmer is seeking to restore the UK’s former role its traditional role as a bridge between its great friend the United States and Europe. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for seek

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of seek was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Seek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seek. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

seek

verb
sought ˈsȯt How to pronounce seek (audio) ; 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

More from Merriam-Webster on seek

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