Meaning & use
sought
Last updated
UK/sɔːt/
US/sɔːt/
“sought” is a form of “seek”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbtransitive
Past tense and past participle of 'seek', meaning tried to find, obtain, or achieve something.
Grammar: Takes an object: sought help, sought a solution.
Patterns
- sought something
- sought to do something
- sought after
- sought for
He sought advice from his lawyer.
The company sought to improve its image.
She sought a better life in the city.
Common combinations
- sought after
- This ancient vase is highly sought after by collectors.
- sought help
- After the accident, he sought help immediately.
- sought to
- The government sought to reduce unemployment.
- sought refuge
- The refugees sought refuge in neighboring countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- looked for
- More informal and often used for physical searching; 'sought' is more formal and can also mean 'tried to obtain'.
- searched for
- Implies a thorough search; 'sought' can be more abstract, like seeking advice.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: sought or seeked?
sought vs seeked
Incorrect past tense; the correct form is 'sought'.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
B is correct because 'sought' is the past tense of 'seek' and takes a direct object without 'for'. A uses the incorrect form 'seeked'. C adds unnecessary 'for'. D misplaces 'for'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sought”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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