Sought Meaning and Definition
Sought
Pronunciation
/ˈsɔːt/
Part of Speech
Verb (past tense of Seek)
Definition
Sought is the past tense of the verb “seek”, meaning to try to find or obtain something, or to ask for something from someone.
Examples
1. “She sought advice from her mentor before making a decision.”
2. “The company sought to expand its operations into new markets.”
Synonyms
1. Looked for
2. Searched for
Antonyms
1. Found
2. Obtained
Additional Information
Sought is a commonly used verb in both formal and informal writing, and it can be used in a variety of contexts, including business, education, and everyday conversation. In the past, the verb “sought” was used in more formal or literary contexts, but it is now widely used in modern English. Sought can also be used in combination with other verbs, such as “to find” or “to discover”, to create more complex sentences. For example, “She sought to find a solution to the problem, but was unsuccessful.”
Sought is also often used in idiomatic expressions, such as “sought after” or “sought out”, which have slightly different meanings. For example, “She sought out the expert’s advice” means that she actively looked for the expert’s advice.
Etymology
The word “sought” comes from the Old English word “sēcan”, which means “to seek” or “to search for”. The word “sought” has been used in English since the 9th century, and it has evolved over time to include various meanings and connotations.
Usage Notes
When using the word “sought”, make sure to use it in the correct context and tense. For example, “I sought advice from my mentor” is correct, but “I sought advice from my mentor yesterday” is not, as the verb “sought” is in the past tense and the sentence is in the present tense.
Cultural References
The word “sought” has been used in various literary and cultural works, such as in the phrase “sought after” in Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
1. Sought after: meaning highly desired or sought, such as “She is a sought-after speaker.”.
2. Sought out: meaning to actively look for or seek something, such as “She sought out the expert’s advice.”
Collocations
1. Sought after by: meaning highly desired or sought by someone, such as “She is sought after by many employers.”
2. Sought out by: meaning to be actively looked for or sought by someone, such as “The expert was sought out by many people.”
Frequency of Use
The word “sought” is commonly used in both formal and informal writing, and it is considered to be a moderately formal word. It is not as common as some other verbs, but it is still widely used and understood.
Common Misspellings
1. Sowt
2. Sougt