The verb to seek · Conjugation
Past Simple of seek
The answer: sought
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to seek is sought.
Example: They sought help from the police.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | sought |
| You | sought |
| He / She / It | sought |
| We | sought |
| You (pl.) | sought |
| They | sought |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I'm seeking my phone ❌
When you speak, say look for: I'm looking for my phone. Use seek in writing, in formal English, or in fixed expressions: seek help, seek advice.
2. Sought said /suːt/ ❌
Say /sɔːt/, like bought, brought, thought and fought. The -ough- sounds /ɔː/. These past forms in -ought belong to the same family.
3. They sought for help ❌
Look for needs for, but seek does not: They sought help from the police. In modern English, don't add for after seek.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of seek?+
The Past Simple of seek is sought (said /sɔːt/, like bought). The past participle is the same: sought. Seek → sought → sought.
Is sought pronounced like bought?+
Yes. Sought is said /sɔːt/, like bought, brought, thought and fought. The -ough- sounds /ɔː/. It is not /sɒt/ and not /suːt/.
Is it seek or look for?+
Both mean to try to find something. Seek is formal, for writing and books. Look for is for everyday English. I'm looking for my keys is normal. I seek the truth is very formal. When you speak, use look for.
Is it didn't seek or didn't sought?+
Say didn't seek: They didn't seek help. After didn't, the verb goes back to its base form (seek, not sought).
Why is it not seeked?+
Because seek is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is sought, with -ought. Seeked does not exist in standard English.
Related pages: seek Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/seek/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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