seek

seek [ sik ] (past tense and past participle sought [ sɔt ] ) verb transitive ***

1. ) FORMAL to ask for something or try to get something:

seek advice/help: Seek medical advice if symptoms last more than a week.

seek permission/approval: You must first seek permission before publishing their names.

seek refuge/asylum: Hundreds of people sought refuge in the British Embassy.

a ) to ask for something from a law court:

seek compensation/damages/redress: The boy's parents are seeking damages from the health plan.

seek an injunction: Colbak sought an injunction to force Bell to change the ads.

b ) to ask people to vote for something:

seek reelection: The Mayor will not seek reelection.

seek approval: a referendum seeking public approval for major constitutional change

2. ) FORMAL to try to find something or someone that you need in your life:

To be eligible, you must show that you are actively seeking employment.

Many single people are seeking that special someone.

a ) MAINLY LITERARY to try to find something such as an answer or a reason:

I think he was seeking some meaning in his life.

We do not always find what we seek.

seek your fortune

to go to live in a new place in order to try to become rich and successful there

seek to do something FORMAL

to try to do something:

The law must seek to protect the democratic rights of citizens.

,seek `out phrasal verb transitive

to find someone or something by looking for them in a determined way:

Corbett resolved to seek out the truth.