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seek
/siːk/
to try to find
She seeks advice from her mentor.
She tries to get guidance from her mentor.
formal
to try to find or obtain something
He is seeking a new job.
He is trying to find new employment.
They seek shelter from the storm.
They try to find a safe place from the bad weather.
More formal than 'look for'. Often used in professional or serious contexts.
formal
to attempt to achieve or gain something abstract
The organization seeks to promote peace.
The group tries to encourage peace.
Candidates seek to understand the voters' needs.
Candidates try to comprehend what voters want.
Commonly followed by an infinitive verb (seek to do something) or abstract nouns (truth, justice, help).
Collocations
seek advicetry to get guidanceseek helptry to get assistanceseek employmentlook for a jobseek refugelook for safety
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'seek' in resumes, emails to bosses, or academic papers. Use 'look for' when talking to friends or family.
Gold Rule
Spelling Check
Remember: 'seek' (double e) is for finding; 'sick' (double i) is for being ill.
Word Origin
From Old English 'sēcan', meaning to go to, visit, or strive for. Related to the German 'suchen'.
Usage Notes
Use 'seek' in formal writing or speech. In casual conversation, 'look for' or 'try to get' is more common. Note the spelling: 'seek' has a double 'e', while 'sick' has a double 'i'.
English Dictionary