seeking

The word “seeking” means the act of searching or trying to obtain something. In plain terms, the act of searching for something — or, as an adjective, wanting or looking for something.

“Seeking” is pronounced SEE-kihng (/ˈsiː.kɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “seeking” used in a sentence: “His seeking of the truth took him across three continents.”

Depending on how it is used, “seeking” can be a noun and an adjective.

“Seeking” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Seeking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of searching or trying to obtain something.

The two overlap closely. Searching emphasizes the physical or systematic act of looking, scanning a place for something. Seeking is broader and often more abstract, covering any effort to obtain or attain something, including goals you cannot simply look for, such as seeking approval, justice, or a better life.

'Seeking' works as both. As a verb it is the present participle of 'seek,' as in 'they are seeking help.' As a noun it names the activity itself, as in 'the seeking of truth.' This noun use, formed from a verb, is called a gerund and behaves like any other noun in a sentence.

In 'the endless seeking of wealth left him unfulfilled,' seeking names the ongoing act of trying to obtain something. Similar phrases include 'the seeking of knowledge' or 'a lifetime of seeking.' Here the word functions as a noun, referring to the pursuit itself rather than describing a person doing it.