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# sought

verb, past tense and past participle of «seek» (seek, seeks, sought, seeking); adjective in «sought-after»

«sought» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Looked for or searched for. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#m1)
2. Tried to get or achieve something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#m2)
3. Asked for, as in sought advice or sought help. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#m3)
4. «Sought-after» means wanted by many people, popular. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#m4)

### In the lessons

It is a formal or story word; in everyday talk people usually say «looked for» or «tried». In stories and history it shows a quest: «the knights sought the treasure». In news and formal writing: «police sought witnesses». Phrases: «sought help», «sought advice», «sought refuge», «much sought-after».

### Examples

- The explorers sought a way across the mountains. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x1)
- She sought help from her teacher when she was stuck. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x2)
- They sought shelter from the rain under a tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x3)
- The police sought anyone who had seen the accident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x4)
- These old cards are much sought-after by collectors. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x5)
- He sought to make friends at his new school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x6)
- The villagers sought advice from the wise old woman. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x7)
- The more he sought the less he found. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/#x8)

### Note

«Seek» is irregular: seek → sought → sought (not «seeked»). «Sought» rhymes with «caught» and «thought». Do not confuse it with «sort» (a kind, or to put in order), which sounds the same in many British accents.

## In Jewish tradition

It is a formal or story word; in everyday talk people usually say «looked for» or «tried». In stories and history it shows a quest: «the knights sought the treasure». In news and formal writing: «police sought witnesses». Phrases: «sought help», «sought advice», «sought refuge», «much sought-after».

### Examples

- Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. (Torah EXO.2.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/#x1)
- And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. (Torah EXO.4.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/#x2)
- And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian: 'Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.' (Torah EXO.4.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/#x3)
- And he sought for them many wives. (Writings 2CH.11.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/#x4)
- How are his hidden places sought out! (Prophets OBA.1.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/#x5)
- I am Thine, save me; for I have sought Thy precepts. (Writings PSA.119.94, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/#x6)

### Note

«Seek» is irregular: seek → sought → sought (not «seeked»). «Sought» rhymes with «caught» and «thought». Do not confuse it with «sort» (a kind, or to put in order), which sounds the same in many British accents.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sought» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sought/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sought» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sought.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «sought» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/sought/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sought» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/sought.html) on Mova free.