proactively seek out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'proactively seek out' is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of actively looking for something or someone in order to solve a problem or gain an advantage. For example, "We need to proactively seek out new markets for our products in order to remain competitive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Instead of rewarding the banks that have dragged their heels over paying out compensation, the FCA should be requiring firms to proactively seek out customers owed money.

The Guardian - Money

Worldwide, data consumption is measured in exabytes (billions of gigabytes), and is growing at 78% a year.No wonder 56% of people polled by DeviceScape, a Wi-Fi software developer, say that they prefer to use Wi-Fi above 3G or 4G connections, and will proactively seek out free Wi-Fi hotspots when out and about.

The Economist

People also don't proactively seek out events to attend as you might suppose.

TechCrunch

Users who install HTTPS Everywhere will have their traffic forced to a secure connection whenever possible — but they need to proactively seek out and install the browser extension.

TechCrunch

"Rather than dwell on the past, I am determined to proactively seek out new opportunities to reshape this initiative so it can realise its potential and deliver something positive for the people of Swindon.

BBC

I proactively seek out and embrace the feminine aspect of my character.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Yang proactively sought out the treatments in February after his parents pressured him to start a family.

The Guardian

They argue that their new "hybrid approach" – proactively seeking out fatal cases using open sources such as news reports, while also asking police to alert them to unnoticed cases – will lead to more comprehensive data.

The Guardian

We didn't start proactively seeking out agents until 15 years later," says Mabey. "I think one of the reasons we did start going to agents proactively was because we'd see books on other people's lists that we felt would have been perfect for us, but people didn't know us and what we were doing".

The Guardian - Books

Hart and Sharma (2004) addressed the importance of proactively seeking out "fringe" [i.e., secondary] stakeholders to build goodwill and minimize the likelihood of organized responses (e.g., boycotts and negative publicity) to adverse business situations.

Fashion and Textiles

In particular, the 'incursion-style' abductions in early 2013 indicate the probability of highly-motivated actors with transnational connections (principally to the north, into the Sahel) proactively seeking out Western hostages (Nigeria Country Security Plan March 2013).

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "proactively seek out" to emphasize the importance of taking initiative and being forward-thinking in finding solutions or opportunities.

Common error

Avoid using "proactively seek out" when a passive approach is more appropriate. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily forceful or unnatural in contexts where a less assertive approach would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proactively seek out" functions as a verb phrase indicating an active and intentional effort to find or obtain something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

31%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "proactively seek out" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that emphasizes initiative and intentionality in finding or obtaining something. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and utility. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and general writing, conveying a neutral to professional tone. To enhance your writing, use this phrase to stress the importance of taking the first step and avoid overusing it in situations where a passive approach is more fitting. Alternatives such as "actively pursue" or "diligently search for" can provide nuanced variations depending on your specific needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

actively pursue

Emphasizes the energetic and determined effort to achieve a goal.

aggressively look for

Highlights a forceful and determined search.

diligently search for

Stresses the careful and persistent nature of the search.

intentionally seek

Focuses on the deliberate and purposeful nature of the action.

purposefully search out

Similar to 'intentionally seek' but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the goal.

take the initiative to find

Highlights the act of taking the first step to discover something.

make an effort to discover

Focuses on the exertion of energy to find something.

be on the lookout for

Implies a state of readiness and vigilance in searching.

search actively

Focuses on the active mode, rather than the goal.

endeavor to locate

Highlights the effort put into finding something.

FAQs

How can I use "proactively seek out" in a sentence?

You can use "proactively seek out" to describe actively looking for opportunities, solutions, or information. For example, "Companies should proactively seek out new markets for their products".

What are some alternatives to "proactively seek out"?

Some alternatives include "actively pursue", "diligently search for", or "intentionally seek". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "proactively seek out"?

While "seek" implies an active search, "proactively" emphasizes the forward-thinking and initiative-taking aspect of the search. Using both can strengthen the message.

What's the difference between "proactively seek out" and "reactively respond to"?

"Proactively seek out" implies taking initiative to find something before a problem arises, whereas "reactively respond to" means addressing an issue only after it occurs. One is a preemptive action, the other is a reactive one.