quest

[kwest]

noun

1. a search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something.

   a quest for uranium mines;

   a quest for knowledge.

   Synonyms: undertaking, mission, journey, search, pursuit, hunt, hunt

2. Classical and Medieval Legend.,  an adventurous expedition undertaken by a knight or knights to secure or achieve something.

   the quest of the Holy Grail.

3. those engaged in such an expedition.

4. British Dialect.,  inquest.

5. Obsolete.,  a jury of inquest.

verb (used without object)

1. to search; seek (often followed by for orafter ).

   to quest after hidden treasure.

2. to go on a quest.

3. Hunting.,  (of a dog)

   1. to search for game.

   2. to bay or give tongue in pursuit of game.

verb (used with object)

1. to search or seek for; pursue.

quest

/ kwɛst /

noun

1. the act or an instance of looking for or seeking; search

   a quest for diamonds

2. (in medieval romance) an expedition by a knight or company of knights to accomplish some prescribed task, such as finding the Holy Grail

3. the object of a search; goal or target

   my quest is the treasure of the king

4. rare,  a collection of alms

verb

1. to go in search (of)

2. to go on a quest

3. 1. to search for game

   2. to bay when in pursuit of game

4. rare,  to collect alms

5. archaic,  (also tr) to go in search of (a thing); seek or pursue

Other Word Forms

• quester noun
• questingly adverb
• unquested adjective
• questing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quest¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English noun queste, from Old French, from Latin quaesīta, feminine past participle of quaerere “to seek”; Middle English verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of quest¹

C14: from Old French queste, from Latin quaesita sought, from quaerere to seek

Idioms and Phrases

see under in search of.

Example Sentences

Externally, however, it might have looked as though he was in retirement as his private life was garnering way more attention than his side quests.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

No. 15 USC is unable to pull off an upset over No. 7 Oregon on the road, all but ending their quest to earn a College Football Playoff berth for the first time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As “True Nature” illustrates, “The Snow Leopard” differs from Matthiessen’s previous nonfiction because it melds science with a spiritual quest, incorporating the author’s newfound zeal for Zen Buddhism.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What a day, but only one day in England's quest to win back the Ashes.

Read more on BBC

To save money for his quest, he spent three years waiting tables at a Morton’s Steakhouse in Tokyo and piled up extra shifts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adventure 
• chase 
• crusade 
• expedition 
• exploration 
• hunt 
• inquiry 
• investigation 
• journey 
• pilgrimage 
• probe 
• pursuit 
• research 
• search