Sought — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb

Meaning & Definition of Sought

Sought (verb)

  1. to resort to, go to
  2. to go in search of, look for
  3. to try to discover

Sought (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go in search of

    "Henry Hudson was set adrift by mutinous crewmen while seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean"

    similar: cast about (for), cast around (for), chased (down), foraged (for), hunted, looked up, pursued, quested, searched (for or out), shopped (for), looked for
    related: ferreted (out), rooted (out)
    near: hid, lost, ignored, neglected

  2. to make a request for

    "came seeking financial advice"

    similar: asked (for), bespoke, called (for), desired, pleaded (for), quested, requested, solicited, spoke (for), sued (for)
    related: applied (for), begged (for), claimed, clamored (for), importuned, urged, wished (for), demanded, enjoined, exacted, insisted (on), petitioned (for), pressed (for), required, requisitioned, invited, invoked

  3. to make an effort to do

    "seek to find the best solution"

    similar: assayed, attempted, endeavored, essayed, strove, tried, had a go at, shot at, tried one's hand (at)
    related: fought, strained, struggled, toiled, troubled, worked, aimed, aspired, hoped, assumed, took up, undertook
    near: dropped, gave up, quit

Related Entry: Seek (verb)

Seek is a different word from Sought. The synonyms below are for seek, not for sought.

  1. to go in search of

    "Henry Hudson was set adrift by mutinous crewmen while seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean"

    similar: cast about (for), cast around (for), chase (down), forage (for), hunt, look up, pursue, quest, search (for or out), shop (for), look for
    related: ferret (out), root (out)
    near: hide, lose, ignore, neglect

  2. to make a request for

    "came seeking financial advice"

    similar: ask (for), bespeak, call (for), desire, plead (for), quest, request, solicit, speak (for), sue (for)
    related: apply (for), beg (for), claim, clamor (for), importune, urge, wish (for), demand, enjoin, exact, insist (on), petition (for), press (for), require, requisition, invite, invoke

  3. to make an effort to do

    "seek to find the best solution"

    similar: assay, attempt, endeavor, essay, strive, try, have a go at, shoot at, try one's hand (at)
    related: fight, strain, struggle, toil, trouble, work, aim, aspire, hope, assume, take up, undertake
    near: drop, give up, quit

Related Entry: Sought (out) (verb)

Sought (out) is a different word from Sought. The synonyms below are for sought (out), not for sought.

  1. as in looked up

    similar: looked up, called (on or upon), dropped in (on), saw, visited, dropped by
    opposite: brushed (aside or off), cold-shouldered, ignored, snubbed

  2. as in looked, reached

    similar: cast about, hunted, looked, reached, grabbled, captured, clutched, corralled, got, grabbed, nabbed, nailed, seized, snatched, felt, fished, fumbled, groped, scrabbled, combed, dredged, dug (through), raked, ransacked, rifled, rummaged, scoured

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sought

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sought:

cast about (for), cast around (for), chased (down), foraged (for), hunted, looked up, pursued, quested, searched (for or out), shopped (for), asked (for), bespoke, called (for), desired, pleaded (for), requested, solicited, spoke (for), sued (for), assayed, attempted, endeavored, essayed, strove, tried, looked for, had a go at, shot at, tried one's hand (at)

Related Words for Sought

ferreted (out), rooted (out), applied (for), begged (for), claimed, clamored (for), importuned, urged, wished (for), demanded, enjoined, exacted, insisted (on), petitioned (for), pressed (for), required, requisitioned, invited, invoked, fought, strained, struggled, toiled, troubled, worked, aimed, aspired, hoped, assumed, took up

Near Antonyms of Sought

hid, lost, ignored, neglected, dropped, gave up, quit

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Sought

Words & Phrases Containing Sought

sought-after

Frequently Asked Questions about Sought

What does "Sought" mean?

"Sought" means to resort to, go to. As a verb, it is defined as: to resort to, go to. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sought"?

Other words for "Sought" include cast about (for), cast around (for), chased (down), foraged (for), hunted, looked up, pursued and quested. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sought" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sought"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sought". Common alternatives include cast about (for), cast around (for), chased (down), foraged (for), hunted, looked up, pursued, quested, searched (for or out) and shopped (for).

How do you use "Sought" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sought" in a sentence: "Henry Hudson was set adrift by mutinous crewmen while seeking the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean"; "came seeking financial advice"; "seek to find the best solution".

Is "Sought" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sought" is a verb.

Is "Sought" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

What is another word for "Sought" meaning "to go in search of"?

When "Sought" (verb) means to go in search of, synonyms include cast about (for), cast around (for), chased (down), foraged (for), hunted and looked up.

What is another word for "Sought" meaning "to make a request for"?

When "Sought" (verb) means to make a request for, synonyms include asked (for), bespoke, called (for), desired, pleaded (for) and quested.