Explanation at your level:
You use seek when you want to find something. It is like saying 'look for'. If you are lost, you might seek help. It is a good word to know for school and work!
Seek is a more formal way to say 'look for'. We use it when we want something important. You can seek advice from a teacher or seek a new job. It sounds more professional than 'look for'.
At this level, you can use seek to talk about goals. People seek success, seek answers, or seek shelter. Remember that the past tense is sought, which is a common mistake for learners!
Seek is frequently used in professional and academic contexts. You might seek clarification on a project or seek to understand a complex issue. It implies a deliberate, active process rather than just a casual glance.
In advanced English, seek is often used with abstract nouns like seek redress, seek consensus, or seek sanctuary. It carries a sense of urgency or high stakes that 'look for' lacks. It is essential for formal writing.
The usage of seek in literary and legal contexts is profound. It can imply a philosophical journey, such as seeking enlightenment or seeking the truth. Its etymological connection to 'beseech' is still felt in formal requests. Mastery involves knowing when to choose seek over synonyms like 'pursue' or 'investigate' based on the desired nuance of intent.
Palavra em 30 segundos
- Seek means to search for or attempt to obtain.
- It is more formal than 'look for'.
- The past tense is 'sought'.
- It is often used with abstract goals.
Hey there! The word seek is a fantastic way to upgrade your vocabulary. While 'look for' is perfectly fine, seek adds a layer of purpose and formality to your speech.
Think of it as intentional searching. You don't just 'look for' a job; you seek employment because you have a goal in mind. It is often used for things you can't hold in your hands, like seeking advice, seeking justice, or seeking shelter.
Using this word shows you are focused and determined. It is very common in professional emails, news reports, and academic writing. Practice using it when you want to sound a bit more serious or professional about your search!
The word seek has deep roots in history. It comes from the Old English word sēcan, which meant to search for, pursue, or inquire. It shares a common ancestor with the German word suchen.
Over centuries, the word evolved to cover both physical searching and abstract goals. Interestingly, it is related to the word beseech, which means to ask someone urgently. It is a classic Germanic word that has survived for over a thousand years, proving it is a staple of the English language!
You should use seek when you want to sound professional or precise. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object. For example, you seek clarification or seek permission.
In casual conversation, people might say 'I'm looking for help,' but in a formal setting, you would say 'I am seeking assistance.' Common collocations include seek advice, seek employment, and seek refuge.
1. Seek and you shall find: A classic proverb meaning if you look, you will get results. 2. Seek out: To actively search for someone or something specific. 3. Seek your fortune: To go somewhere new to become rich or successful. 4. Seek attention: To act in a way that makes people notice you. 5. Hide and seek: A popular children's game where one person hides and others search.
Seek is an irregular verb. The past tense and past participle are sought (pronounced /sɔːt/). It rhymes with 'taught' or 'caught'.
The pronunciation is /siːk/. The 'ee' sound is a long vowel, similar to 'see' or 'bee'. It is a one-syllable word, making it punchy and direct in any sentence structure.
Fun Fact
It is related to the word 'beseech'.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' sound.
Clear 'k' at the end.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'sick'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Mispronouncing 'sought'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avançado
Grammar to Know
Irregular Verbs
seek/sought/sought
Transitive Verbs
seek + object
Infinitive Patterns
seek to do
Examples by Level
I seek my friend.
I am looking for my friend.
Simple present.
They seek the ball.
They are looking for the ball.
Verb usage.
We seek help.
We are asking for help.
Formal request.
He seeks a book.
He is looking for a book.
Third person 's'.
I seek the exit.
I am looking for the door.
Direct object.
Do you seek me?
Are you looking for me?
Question form.
She seeks a pen.
She wants a pen.
Simple present.
We seek the way.
We are looking for the path.
Active search.
I seek advice from my boss.
They seek a new home.
He seeks the truth.
We seek to improve our skills.
She seeks a better job.
The cat seeks warmth.
Do you seek information?
I seek a quiet place.
The company is seeking new talent.
We must seek a solution to this problem.
He sought refuge in the nearby church.
She is seeking to clarify the situation.
Many people seek adventure in travel.
They sought permission to enter.
I am seeking a career change.
We seek to understand the causes.
The government is seeking to reduce taxes.
She sought legal counsel after the accident.
We must seek consensus among the team.
He is seeking to establish a reputation.
The organization seeks to promote equality.
They sought shelter during the storm.
I seek to minimize my environmental impact.
She sought out mentors in her field.
The committee is seeking to rectify the error.
He sought to reconcile with his estranged family.
They are seeking redress for the damages.
We must seek the underlying cause of the failure.
The artist seeks to challenge conventions.
She sought solace in music.
The policy seeks to mitigate risk.
They seek to preserve the historical site.
The protagonist seeks redemption for past sins.
They sought to dismantle the corrupt system.
The scholar seeks to elucidate complex theories.
He sought to transcend his humble beginnings.
The movement seeks to foster global unity.
They sought to invalidate the previous contract.
She seeks to cultivate a sense of wonder.
The architect seeks to harmonize form and function.
Colocações comuns
Idioms & Expressions
"Hide and seek"
A game where players hide.
The kids played hide and seek.
casual"Seek and you shall find"
If you look, you will get results.
Just keep looking; seek and you shall find.
formal"Seek your fortune"
Go out to find wealth.
He left home to seek his fortune.
literary"Seek attention"
Trying to be noticed.
He is just seeking attention.
neutral"Seek out"
To actively find.
I will seek out the best deals.
neutral"Seek to"
To attempt to do something.
We seek to make a difference.
formalEasily Confused
Both mean searching.
Seek is formal; look for is casual.
I am looking for my keys vs I am seeking justice.
Both involve goals.
Pursue implies a long-term path.
I seek an answer vs I pursue a career.
Both mean searching.
Search can be a noun.
The search was long vs I seek the truth.
Similar sound.
Sick means ill.
I feel sick vs I seek help.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + seek + noun
I seek advice.
Subject + seek + to + verb
We seek to improve.
Subject + seek + out + noun
He seeks out the best.
Subject + sought + noun
They sought peace.
Subject + are + seeking + noun
We are seeking clarity.
Família de palavras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Erros comuns
Seek is an irregular verb.
Seek is transitive; it doesn't need 'for'.
Same as above; no 'for' needed.
Redundant; seek already implies finding.
Incorrect preposition usage.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a detective seeking a clue.
Professionalism
Use 'seek' in emails to sound more professional.
Games
Remember the game 'Hide and Seek'.
No Preposition
Never add 'for' after seek.
Rhyme
Rhymes with 'peak'.
Past Tense
Avoid 'seeked'.
History
It is over 1000 years old.
Context
Read news articles to see it used.
Formal Writing
Replace 'look for' with 'seek' in essays.
Clarity
Use it when you want to show purpose.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Seek sounds like 'see' + 'k'. See the key!
Visual Association
A detective with a magnifying glass.
Word Web
Desafio
Write three sentences using 'seek' today.
Origem da palavra
Old English
Original meaning: To search for or pursue.
Contexto cultural
None.
Common in professional and academic settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- seek employment
- seek advice
- seek clarification
Legal
- seek justice
- seek counsel
- seek damages
Daily Life
- seek help
- seek shelter
- seek information
Academic
- seek to understand
- seek evidence
- seek consensus
Conversation Starters
"What kind of advice do you often seek?"
"Do you think it is important to seek new experiences?"
"When was the last time you had to seek help for something?"
"Do you prefer to seek out answers yourself or ask others?"
"What are you currently seeking in your life?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a goal you are currently seeking.
Describe a time you sought advice and how it helped.
Why do people seek fame or fortune?
What does it mean to seek the truth?
Perguntas frequentes
8 perguntasYes, it is more formal than 'look for'.
Sought.
No, that is grammatically incorrect.
Use 'seek to' + verb.
Yes, especially in professional contexts.
Yes, 'seeker'.
Yes.
Yes, but it sounds more formal.
Teste-se
I ___ my lost toy.
Seek is the correct verb here.
What is the past tense of seek?
Sought is the irregular past tense.
You should say 'I am seeking for a job'.
Seek does not take 'for'.
Word
Significado
Matching phrases to meanings.
We seek to find the truth.
Pontuação: /5
Summary
Seek is the purposeful, formal cousin of 'look for'—use it when your search has a clear goal.
- Seek means to search for or attempt to obtain.
- It is more formal than 'look for'.
- The past tense is 'sought'.
- It is often used with abstract goals.
Memory Palace
Imagine a detective seeking a clue.
Professionalism
Use 'seek' in emails to sound more professional.
Games
Remember the game 'Hide and Seek'.
No Preposition
Never add 'for' after seek.
Exemplo
I need to seek help with my math homework because it is very difficult.
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