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

seeker

2 of 2

noun

seek·​er
-kə(r)
plural -s
: one that seeks or is used in seeking
a tone more suggestive of the scientific seeker for the truthB. N. Cardozo
: such as
a
usually capitalized : one of a small group of the English Independents who claimed religious liberty, who professed to seek further revelation as to the true church, ministry, and sacraments, and many of whom joined the Friends
b
: a slender instrument that has a smooth rounded end and is used in dissecting to follow up delicate tubular structures : a slender probe
c
: a device in a missile that is attracted to some form of emission (as light, heat, sound, or radio waves)
also : a missile equipped with such a device

Synonyms of seek

Examples of seek in a Sentence

Verb 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
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Verb
Local governments have opened emergency shelters, which have been nearing capacity, as residents in low-lying areas and those living in wood and tin homes have especially sought refuge. Kristin Wright, NPR, 5 July 2026 The river has risen again and again, and in 1993, the Mississippi did not go over the levee, at first, but under it, burrowing a tunnel like a prisoner seeking freedom. Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 Those petitions ballooned after the administration began limiting the ability of many immigrants to seek release through bond hearings in immigration court. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Joel Angel Juarez | Reuters Dividend stocks remain a popular choice for investors seeking steady income and higher portfolio returns. Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for seek

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Middle English secher, seker, from sechen, seken to seek + -er

First Known Use

Verb

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 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

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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