sought

American  

[sawt] / sɔt /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of seek.

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sought British  

/ sɔːt /

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of seek

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-sought
  adjective
• unsought
  adjective

Explanation

I have long sought an answer to the following question: If sought is the past tense of seek, how come you say "we played hide and seek all afternoon" instead of "we hid and sought all afternoon?" Seek means to look for, and sought is what you say when you're done with the looking. "As a young man, I sought my fortune. Now it is time for me to sit by the fire, searching for the long-sought-after answer to the timeless question 'What did it all mean?'"

Example Sentences

U.S. refiners have sought to take advantage of that by exporting more of their products, with a particular focus in recent weeks on jet fuel.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

This myth, among others, such as California’s economic dominance and its reputation as a peaceful liberal haven, Didion sought to problematize in her writing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

In 2011, the High Court ruled that Somerset and Gloucestershire County Councils had not complied with the duty when they sought to withdraw funding for more than 20 libraries.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Epstein sought unsuccessfully to convince Gates to establish a global donor fund with JPMorgan and discovered some of the billionaire’s extramarital affairs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

I naturally asked myself that question as I saw him turn to her and look at her; and, as naturally, I sought the answer to the inquiry in his countenance.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë