seek /siːk/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL verb (past tensepst and past participlepp sought /sɔːt $ sɒːt/) [transitiveT] 1 formal to try to achieve or get something 寻求;谋求 Do you think the president will seek re-election? 你认为总统会谋求连任吗?
seek refuge/asylum/shelter etc Thousands of people crossed the border, seeking refuge from the war. 成千上万的人穿过边境寻求庇护,躲避战争。
seek revenge/damages/compensation etc He sought revenge against Surkov for separating him from his wife and son. 苏尔科夫害得他妻离子散,他要报复。
seek to do something Local schools are seeking to reduce the dropout rate. 当地学校在寻找办法降低辍学率。
attention-seeking/publicity-seeking 吸引别人注意/寻求知名度
2 seek (somebody’s) advice/help/assistance etc formalASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO somethingADVISE to ask someone for advice or help 征求(某人的)意见/请求(某人的)帮助/援助等 If the symptoms persist, seek medical advice. 如症状持续,请咨询医生。
seek (somebody’s) advice/help/assistance etc• She can walk into a family planning clinic and seek assistance.• They had sought my advice, and I had recommended this machine.• Almost three years since she sought help for the severe seizures, Harlan had her surgery.• The more Marcus thought about it, the more he realized that he would have to seek help from Fanshawe.• It will normally be necessary to seek expert advice on the realisable values of all the major assets.• Abdominal complaints Abdomen: When to seek advice Urgently, Right now! 3 LOOK FOR written to look for someone or something 寻找,寻求 SYN look for new graduates seeking employment 正在求职的刚毕业的大学生
Attractive woman, 27, seeks male, 25-35, for fun and friendship. 魅力女性,27岁,欲觅25-35岁男子为友,同玩共乐,发展友情。
► see thesaurus at search RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that they are looking for someone or something rather than seeking someone or something: 在日常英语中,人们一般说looking for someone或something ,而不是seeking someone或something
What kind of job are you looking for? 你在找什么样的工作?
4 seek your fortune literaryTRY TO DO OR GET something to go to another place hoping to gain success and wealth 寻找成功致富之路,闯世界 Coles came to the Yukon in the 1970s to seek his fortune. 科尔斯在20世纪70年代来到育空地区寻找致富的机会。
5 MOVE/CHANGE POSITIONto move naturally towards something or into a particular position 自然地向…移动 Water seeks its own level. 水往低处流。
6 seek somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verbphr v LOOK FORto try to find someone or something, especially when this is difficult 找出,找到 Our mission is to seek out the enemy and destroy them. 我们的任务是要找到敌人并把他们消灭。
seek out• In which case, I may have to seek you out.• Most jokes seem to seek me out.• Leaders on Capitol Hill virtually put all other business on hold as it sought to hammer out a debt ceiling increase.• Why, then, do so many experts seek to stamp out fear?• Mones often sought me out for help with his written work.• Why had Kingsley sought him out this morning, far out here in the bush?• Christie and Geis also sought to find out why people differ on the Machiavellian scale.• He sought her out with his hands but she pushed him away as if he would hurt her and no reassurance satisfied her. → heat-seeking, hide-and-seek, self-seeking, sought-aftern COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2nounsseek helpHe sought help from the police.
seek advice/informationIf in any doubt, seek the advice of a senior officer.
seek support/approvalHe said he would seek shareholder support for the proposal.
seek permissionThey are seeking permission to build 200 new houses.
seek refuge/asylum/shelter (=try to find somewhere safe)They sought refuge inside the castle.
seek election/re-election (=try to be elected or re-elected)He hasn’t decided whether to seek re-election.
seek compensation/damages (=ask for money because of something bad you have suffered)The other two may seek compensation for wrongful imprisonment.
seek revengeDafoe plays a computer mastermind who seeks revenge on his former employer.
adverbsactivelyThe university is actively seeking new funds.
desperatelyThey ran in all directions, desperately seeking escape.