seek

verb \ˈsēk\

: 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)

sought \ˈsȯt\ seek·ing

Full Definition of SEEK

transitive verb

: to resort to : go to

a : to go in search of : look for

b : to try to discover

: to ask for : request <seeks advice>

: to try to acquire or gain : aim at <seek fame>

: 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

: to make a search or inquiry

a : to be sought

b : to be lacking <in critical judgment…they were sadly to seek — Times Literary Supplement>

— seek·er noun

See seek defined for English-language learners

See seek defined for kids

Origin of SEEK

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 12th century

Related to SEEK

Synonyms: cast about (for), cast around (for), chase (down), forage (for), hunt, look up, pursue, quest, search (for or out), shop (for), look for

Rhymes with SEEK

beak, bleak, cheek, chic, cleek, clique, creak, creek, Creek, eke, flic, freak, geek, gleek, Greek, keek, leak, leek, meek, peak, peek, peke, pic, pique, reek, screak, sheikh, shriek, sic, Sikh, sleek, sneak, speak, squeak, steek, streak, streek, teak, tweak, weak, week

SEEKER Defined for Kids

seek

verb \ˈsēk\

sought \ˈsȯt\seek·ing

Definition of SEEK for Kids

: to try to find <seek help> <… foxes called to each other, seeking again their lifelong mates. — Jean Craighead George, My Side of the Mountain>

: to try to win or get <He sought revenge.>

: to make an attempt <Doctors are seeking to find a cure.>

Synonym Discussion of 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.>