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• sought-after
  sought-after

  adjective

  that is in demand; desirable.
• sought after
  sought after

  Also, much sought after. Very popular, in demand, as in He was much sought after as a throat specialist, particularly by singers. This expression uses the past participle of seek in the sense of “desired” or “searched for.” [Late 1800s]

sought-after

American  

[sawt-af-ter, -ahf-] / ˈsɔtˌæf tər, -ˌɑf- /

adjective

1. that is in demand; desirable.

   a sought-after speaker.

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sought-after British  

adjective

1. in demand; wanted

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sought after Idioms  

1. Also, much sought after. Very popular, in demand, as in He was much sought after as a throat specialist, particularly by singers. This expression uses the past participle of seek in the sense of “desired” or “searched for.” [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of sought-after

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

But for clubs lower down the food chain, that level of success can come at a cost; your best talent - managers included - become sought-after personnel for the more established.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

On April 19, as search-and-rescue teams dug through the rubble for survivors, Emerson became a sought-after TV pundit.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

Within less than five years, the number of exhibitors has almost doubled, organisers said, with the 2026 edition welcoming 11 new brands, including Audemars Piguet, one of the most sought-after among collectors.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

While token pricing has gone down, token costs can be higher for some newer, more sought-after models—and companies’ use is generally going up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Throughout history, some of the most sought-after shipwrecks have been those that played an important role in the nation’s history before meeting an unfortunate end.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

Related Words

• attractive
• beloved
• famous
• fashionable
• favored
• prominent
• suitable
• trendy