"Seek" Past Tense: Meaning and Examples

The past tense of the verb "seek" is "sought," which means to actively look for, search for, or try to obtain something, often with a specific goal or intention in mind. "Seek" and "sought" implies a purposeful and determined effort to find or achieve a particular thing.

For example, imagine you are searching for a new job. You might say, "I am currently seeking employment," which means you are actively looking for a job opportunity. If you say, "I sought employment actively until I landed a job this November," which means that you were looking for a job in the past but now have stopped searching because you already found one.

"Seek" can also mean to resort to (seek help), to go to (seek a new place), to try to discover (seek treasure), to ask or request for (to seek advice), to obtain or acquire (seek fame and success), or to make an attempt (seek a solution). The most common definition and use, however, is the first one mentioned above: actively looking and searching for something.

Example sentences

Seek

She is determined to seek justice for the victims of the crime.
The explorer ventured into the jungle to seek rare plant species.
As a student, he constantly seeks knowledge by reading books and attending lectures.
The company is actively seeking partnerships with innovative startups.
In times of uncertainty, people often seek guidance from trusted advisors.

Sought

The detective sought clues to solve the mysterious case.
He sought advice from experienced colleagues before making a major decision.
The treasure hunters had sought the legendary lost city for years.
She sought out mentors who could help her advance in her career.
After years of searching, they finally found the missing artifact they had sought.

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