{
    "term": "seek",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "academic": true,
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "seek",
            "heSheIt": "seeks"
        },
        "pastSimple": "sought",
        "pastParticiple": "sought",
        "ingForm": "seeking"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to look for something/somebody",
            "sensetop": "seek something/somebodyseek for something/somebody",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes.",
                    "contextForm": "seek something/somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the deaths."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They sought in vain for somewhere to shelter.",
                    "contextForm": "seek for something/somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Police are seeking witnesses to the accident."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We're seeking for alternative materials which might bring the cost down."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adverb": ["aggressively", "avidly", "eagerly"],
                "verb + seek": ["continue to"],
                "preposition": ["for", "in"],
                "phrases": ["highly sought after"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to ask somebody for something; to try to obtain or achieve something",
            "sensetop": "seek somethingseek something from somebodyseek for something/somebody",
            "labels": "(British English)",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I think it's time we **sought** legal **advice**.",
                    "contextForm": "seek something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They **sought refuge** in the mountain villages."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She fled the country and is now **seeking asylum** in Sweden."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The pilot **sought permission** to land."
                },
                {
                    "text": "EU citizens have the right to seek employment in any member state."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He has not **sought** medical **treatment** for his condition."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was determined to seek revenge."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She managed to calm him down and **seek help** from a neighbour.",
                    "contextForm": "seek something from somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to **seek approval** from the local council."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They came seeking for the truth.",
                    "contextForm": "seek for something/somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He intends to seek custody of the children."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We are currently seeking new ways of expanding our membership."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I think you should seek guidance from your lawyer on this matter."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I advise you to seek assistance from the police."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to seek funding for a project"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He was desperately seeking a way to see her again."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Employers are seeking further clarification of the proposals."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is best to seek a compromise rather than a perfect solution."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lawyers are seeking an out-of-court settlement."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The police are seeking independent confirmation of certain details of the story."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are now seeking endorsement for their ideas."
                },
                {
                    "text": "To receive the benefit, you have to be actively seeking work."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They sought comfort in each other."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Success"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to try to do something",
            "sensetop": "seek to do something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He sought to establish himself as a writer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They quickly sought to distance themselves from the protesters."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They initially sought to blame others for the disaster."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He encouraged governments to adopt a more forceful approach in seeking to improve the environment."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The research project will seek to find an answer to this question."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The state has actively sought to develop tourism."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "attempt"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "looking for or trying to get the thing mentioned; the activity of doing this",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "attention-seeking behaviour"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Voluntary work can provide a framework for job-seeking."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to try to find a way to become rich, especially by going to another place",
            "labels": "(literary)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Many emigrated to Australia to seek their fortune."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/siːk/",
                "audio": "se/seek/seek__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/siːks/",
                "audio": "se/seek/seeks__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɔːt/",
                "audio": "so/seek/sought__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsiːkɪŋ/",
                "audio": "se/seek/seeking__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/siːk/",
                "audio": "se/seek/seek__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/siːks/",
                "audio": "se/seek/seeks__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/sɔːt/",
                "audio": "so/seek/sought__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈsiːkɪŋ/",
                "audio": "se/seek/seeking__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Old English sēcan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zieken and German suchen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sagire ‘perceive by scent’."
}