seek about

USAGE SUMMARY

"seek about" can be used in written English, although it is not a commonly used phrase.
It means to search or look around for something. Here is an example of its use in a sentence: "After her purse was stolen, she had to seek about for spare change to buy a train ticket home."

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Reflect on the feedback you seek about your application before you send it off.

The Guardian

Mr. Tan said he would seek about $800 million for the stake, which is at least 70percentt.

The New York Times

They planned to put up $2 million themselves, borrow $10 million, and seek about $9 million from equity investors, the prospectus said.

The New York Times

The suit, expected to be filed in Miami, will seek about $165,000 per passenger — more than 10 times the amount Costa offered.

The New York Times

James McAleese, who advises defense contractors, said he expected Mr. Gates to seek about $2 billion in annual cuts from the missile defense programs.

The New York Times

We are committed to bringing Mr. Cullen to justice and helping families find the answers they seek about loved ones who may have been under his care.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

The suckling of a baby is at first an instinct: the child seeks about with its mouth.

Biology and Philosophy

The lawsuit seeks about $425 million from the bank.

The New York Times

TPR is understood to be seeking about £350m from Green.

The Guardian - Business

He's seeking about $13 million per year, with about $35 million guaranteed.

The New York Times

"My advice was not sought" about UN negotiating tactics, he writes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "seek about" is technically correct, consider using more common alternatives like "search for" or "look around for" to enhance clarity and readability.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on "seek about" in formal contexts. Opt for more conventional synonyms such as "search", "investigate", or "inquire" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seek about" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of searching or looking around. Ludwig AI notes that it is not a commonly used phrase, suggesting it's less frequent in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seek about" means to search or look around for something. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not a commonly used phrase, making it less frequent in contemporary English. It appears primarily in news and media contexts, with some usage in scientific and formal business settings. For clearer and more effective communication, consider using more common alternatives such as "search for", "look around for", or other similar phrases. While not incorrect, opting for more familiar synonyms can improve readability and comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

search around for

Replaces "seek" with "search" and uses "around" for a more general exploration.

look around for

Substitutes "seek" with "look", implying a visual search or investigation.

try to find

Uses "try to find" to emphasize the effort in locating something.

attempt to locate

Employs "attempt to locate" for a more formal tone, suggesting a deliberate effort to discover something.

make inquiries regarding

Replaces "seek" with a formal phrase indicating investigation and questioning.

hunt for

Uses "hunt" suggesting a more aggressive or thorough search.

scout for

Replaces with "scout", used for searching for specific purpose.

explore

Refers to seek with "explore", meaning thorough investigation of a subject or area.

investigate

Replaces with "investigate", in order to search thoroughly.

pursue

Refers to seek with "pursue", meaning to find or discover something in order to catch up with someone.

FAQs

What does "seek about" mean?

"Seek about" means to search or look around for something, though it's not a commonly used phrase.

What are some alternatives to "seek about"?

You can use alternatives such as "search around for", "look around for", or "try to find depending on the context.

Is "seek about" grammatically correct?

Yes, "seek about" is grammatically acceptable, but it is not a frequently used expression in modern English.

When is it appropriate to use "seek about"?

While grammatically correct, it's generally better to use more common and easily understood alternatives in both formal and informal writing. Consider replacing with "search for" or similar phrases.