seek

verb

ˈsēk How to pronounce seek (audio)
sought ˈsȯt How to pronounce seek (audio) ; seeking
Synonyms of seek

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
In the twentieth century, international treaties and institutions sought to ban war …—Lauren Benton

intransitive verb

1
: to make a search or inquiry
2
a
: to be sought
b
: to be lacking
seeker noun

Synonyms of seek

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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.
Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham sought in an opening statement last week to keep jurors' focus on the defendant, not her doctors. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 Militaries often run command and control operations away from the frontlines; enemies have sought to disrupt those communications through jamming and, in the past few decades, cyberattacks. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026 While the Lawrence Avenue exit is closed, IDOT recommends commuters account for additional time in their drive and seek alternate routes. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 Randazzo did not immediately return a text message seeking comment. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing seek

Rhymes for seek

See All Rhymes for seek

Browse Nearby Words

seeing that
seek
seek compensation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seek.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seek. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

seek

verb
ˈsēk How to pronounce seek (audio)
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

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Nglish: Translation of seek for Spanish Speakers

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