quest

American  

[kwest] / kwɛst /

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

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

quest Idioms  

1. see under in search of.

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of quest

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

Explanation

A quest is all about seeking something important, and it often involves a journey. You would travel the world in a quest for gold. You would not travel to the front of the lunchroom in a quest for tater tots. Knights in the Middle Ages were forever taking on quests––most famously to find the Holy Grail. In modern times, you can quest without ever leaving home, thanks to the Internet. A scientist might embark on a quest to find the cure for cancer. A detective might quest for the truth.

Example Sentences

Last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires sent thousands of families on a quest for shelter.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

All this on a quest to answer one core question: Can we get ahead investing today like people did in the past?

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

The automaker brought together Silicon Valley techies and industry misfits in a quest to beat China at EVs.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

After wins for Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest over the bank holiday weekend, the quest for safety is hotting up.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Hermann Muller—disappointed by another false utopia—left Berlin for the Soviet Union, on yet another quest to unite science and socialism.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

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