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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Seek: Meaning, Usage & Examples Explained (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：look for (seek)

seek 🔊

/siːk/

To look for something or someone, often because they are not easy to see or find.

look for 🔊

➕

/lʊk fɔːr/

This meaning involves actively trying to locate something physical or find information that is not immediately obvious or available.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Old English 'sēcan' meaning 'to go, look for, inquire', which comes from Proto-Germanic *sōkijaną. Related to the Old Norse 'sǿkja', German 'suchen', and Gothic 'sōkjan'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'See-K?' as in 'Can you SEE the letter K?' Imagine you're in a game of hide-and-seek, and you must 'SEEK' the hidden letter 'K'. It combines 'see' and the letter 'k' to form the action of looking for something.

📖 Example

When you visit a new city, you might use a map app to seek the best route to a famous museum. 🔊 You might use a map application to look for the most efficient path to a well-known museum while exploring an unfamiliar city.

🔗 Collocations

seek out – To make a special effort to find someone or something.

seek shelter – To look for a place that provides protection from danger or bad weather.

🔄 Synonyms

search for (v.) – To look carefully and thoroughly for someone or something.

look for (v.) – To try to find something or someone.

🚫 Antonyms

find (v.) – To discover or locate something, especially after searching.

ignore (v.) – To refuse to take notice of or acknowledge.

🌱 Derivatives

seeker (n.) – A person who is searching for something.

📖 Cultural Story

The verb 'seek' originates from the Old English 'sēcan', meaning 'to go, look for, inquire'. Its root can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *sāg-, which means 'to track, trace, seek out'. In modern English, 'seek' is a formal and active term frequently used in legal and professional contexts. For example, the common legal phrase 'seek legal counsel' or its use in mission statements like 'to seek truth' underscore its association with purposeful endeavor. It is also a standard term in job applications, as in 'seeking a position'.

Meaning 2：try to get (seek)

seek 🔊

/siːk/

To try to get or achieve something abstract, like help, approval, or a result.

Seek definition example: student seeking advice from a teacher in a classroom setting.

try to get 🔊

➕

/traɪ tuː ɡet/

This meaning refers to the attempt to obtain something intangible, such as advice, permission, knowledge, or a specific outcome.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Before making an important decision, it's wise to seek your teacher's guidance. 🔊 It is a prudent action to try to get advice from your instructor prior to finalizing a significant choice.

🔗 Collocations

seek advice – To ask for recommendations or opinions from someone, especially an expert.

seek approval – To try to get permission or a positive opinion from an authority figure.

🔄 Synonyms

request (v.) – To politely or formally ask for something.

ask for (v.) – To express a desire for something, such as help or information.

🚫 Antonyms

reject (v.) – To refuse to accept, consider, or grant something.

decline (v.) – To politely refuse an offer or request.

🌱 Derivatives

sought (v. (past tense)) – Past tense and past participle of seek.

seeking (n./adj.) – The act of trying to find or obtain something.