seek out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “seek out” mean?
To actively and deliberately look for and find someone or something, especially when it/they require effort or determination to locate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To actively and deliberately look for and find someone or something, especially when it/they require effort or determination to locate.
To make a conscious effort to find, discover, or obtain something less tangible (e.g., opportunities, advice, experiences), or to search for people to join or help you.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical or usage differences. Both varieties use the phrasal verb identically.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties, implying a diligent or earnest search.
Frequency
Used with similar frequency in both UK and US English, common in written and spoken formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “seek out” in a Sentence
[subject] + seek out + [object (person/thing)][subject] + seek out + [object] + for + [purpose][subject] + seek + [object] + out (particle can be separated in transitive use with pronouns, e.g., 'seek him out')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seek out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We must seek out new markets for our products.
- He managed to seek the old records out from the archives.
- The club seeks out promising young players.
American English
- Companies are always seeking out the best talent.
- I need to seek her out for advice.
- We sought out a quieter neighborhood.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (The phrase 'seek-out' as an adjective is not standard.)
American English
- N/A (The phrase 'seek-out' as an adjective is not standard.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe proactive recruitment ('seek out top talent'), sourcing suppliers, or finding market opportunities.
Academic
Common in research contexts, e.g., 'to seek out primary sources' or 'seek out contradictory evidence'.
Everyday
Used for finding specific people, places, or items, e.g., 'I need to seek out a good plumber.'
Technical
Used in computing (e.g., algorithms that seek out patterns or errors) and in medicine (e.g., to seek out the source of an infection).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seek out”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seek out”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seek out”
- Using 'seek for out' (incorrect addition of 'for').
- Using it for a casual search ('I'll seek out my keys' – too formal/effortful for this context).
- Incorrect word order with pronouns: 'I want to seek out him' (acceptable but less common) vs. 'I want to seek him out' (more natural).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Seek' is more general and ongoing ('seek advice'). 'Seek out' implies a targeted, successful, or deliberate conclusion to the search ('seek out the best advisor').
It is neutral to formal. It's fine in business and academic writing but might sound too strong for a very casual search for a lost item at home.
Yes, especially with pronouns. You can say 'seek out the manager' or 'seek the manager out'. With a pronoun, 'seek him out' is more natural than 'seek out him'.
Not necessarily, but it strongly implies the intention and effort to find, and is often used when success is achieved or expected. The focus is on the deliberate action of searching.
To actively and deliberately look for and find someone or something, especially when it/they require effort or determination to locate.
Seek out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsiːk ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsik ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a detective who must SEEK and then OUT a criminal—first searching, then successfully finding and bringing them out.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEEKING IS HUNTING / FINDING IS ACHIEVING A GOAL. The effortful search is conceptualized as a hunt, and success is reaching a destination.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'seek out' most appropriately?