VocabDictionary

sought

/sɔːt/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.verb

Simple past tense and past participle of seek: searched for, pursued, or attempted to find or obtain.

Example Sentences:
  • The weary travelers sought shelter from the sudden winter blizzard.
  • She sought legal counsel before signing the complex merger agreement.
2.adjective

Greatly desired, pursued, or in high demand (frequently used in compounds like 'sought-after').

Example Sentences:
  • His rare vintage watches are among the most sought items at the auction.
  • She quickly became one of the industry's most sought keynote speakers.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “sought”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from Old English 'sōhte', the past tense of 'sēcan' (to seek), tracing back to Proto-Germanic '*sōkijaną' (past tense '*sōhtē') and the Proto-Indo-European root '*sag-' (to seek out, perceive, track). The consonant shift from the velar stop /k/ to the fricative /x/ (spelled 'gh') before /t/ is a characteristic Germanic phonological feature.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Rhymes with 'thought': If you thought about finding something, you sought it.

Frequently Asked Questions About “sought

1. What is the meaning of “sought” in English?

In English, sought (verb) is defined as: “Simple past tense and past participle of seek: searched for, pursued, or attempted to find or obtain.”.

2. How do you use “sought” in a sentence?

The weary travelers sought shelter from the sudden winter blizzard.

3. What are English synonyms of “sought”?

Common synonyms include:pursued,searched,desired,requested,solicited

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “sought”?

Derived from Old English 'sōhte', the past tense of 'sēcan' (to seek), tracing back to Proto-Germanic '*sōkijaną' (past tense '*sōhtē') and the Proto-Indo-European root '*sag-' (to seek out, perceive, track). The consonant shift from the velar stop /k/ to the fricative /x/ (spelled 'gh') before /t/ is a characteristic Germanic phonological feature.