DictionaryAI

seek

SEEK/siːk/

Formsseeks, seeking, sought

7 meanings of seek

Practice

  1. 1
    try to getverbtransitive
    To work hard to get something you want, like a goal or a prize.

    Like reaching for a high shelf, stretching to grab what you want.

    Many young actors seek fame and fortune.

    Workers often seek better pay and safer jobs.

    UsageA formal way to say try to get: seek fame.

    Similarpursue, court, chase

    Oppositeavoid, shun

    Note
  2. 2
    look forverbtransitive or intransitive
    To look for someone or something, or to try to find a safe place to go.

    Like a dog sniffing around the yard to find a buried bone.

    Bees seek flowers full of sweet nectar.

    When the storm came, families ran to seek shelter in the school gym.

    UsageThe past is sought. It is a formal word for look for.

    Similarsearch for, look for

    Oppositeavoid, shun

  3. 3
    attemptverbintransitive
    To make an effort or try to do something.

    Like trying again and again until you can ride a bike.

    Doctors seek to ease their patients' pain.

    We must seek to understand before we judge.

    UsageSay seek to + verb. In everyday English, say try to.

    Similartry, attempt, aim, strive, endeavor

  4. 4
    ask forverbtransitive
    To ask someone for something you need, like help or advice.

    Like raising your hand to ask the teacher a question.

    You should seek advice before signing the contract.

    They seek permission from the city to build a park.

    UsageSay seek help from someone.

    Similarrequest, solicit, ask

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    jump to (data)verbintransitive
    To move to a certain spot in a file or recording, like skipping ahead.

    Like fast-forwarding a movie straight to your favorite scene.

    The video player can seek to any point in the clip.

    Older hard drives seek more slowly than newer ones.

    Similarscrub

    Note
  2. 6
    verbobsoleteintransitive
    To go or travel in a certain direction.
    Note
  3. 7
    noun
    A jump to a certain point in a file without going through all of it.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of seek apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English sēċan, meaning "to seek." It goes back to older Germanic and Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to seek out."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts