Collocations are words that usually go together in English.

Here we are going to look at words that go with 'seek' to make useful and popular expressions you will hear in social and professional contexts.

Seek (something)

When you 'seek something' in this context, you ask for or try to obtain it.

Examples

• If you continue to feel unwell, then you should seek medical advice.
• For anyone seeking knowledge, the internet can be a fantastic resource.
• I sought additional information on the company before signing an agreement with them.

Seeking (something/somebody)

If you are 'seeking something/somebody',  you are looking for them in a determined or proactive manner.

Examples

• I'm unemployed at the moment so I'm actively seeking a job.
• The police are urgently seeking a witness to the crime.
• John is desperately seeking a promotion. He would do anything to get it.

Highly sought after

If something or somebody are 'highly sought after', they are in demand and considered to be rare or of particularly high quality.

Examples

• Alice is being headhunted by at least two companies. She is highly sought after.
• The item sold at auction for a record fee. It was highly sought after by collectors.
• Our highly sought after product is selling out in shops across the country.

Heat-seeking (missile)

You are likely only to hear this in relation to a heat-seeking missile, used by the military to shoot down planes and other incoming missiles. The missiles track and chase the heat (infrared radiation) emitted by the plane or enemy missile until they hit it and destroy it. In a figurative sense, you might be able to speak about a person acting like a heat-seeking missile, maybe in a situation where a football or rugby player tackles an opponent; or even in a workplace situation where you are talking about someone furiously pursuing a promotion or some other goal.

Examples

• The Russian fighter jet was shot down by a heat-seeking missile fired by the rebel militia.
• When Rob was told there was a promotion on the cards, he was like a heat-seeking missile on the shop floor, closing every sale he could.

These are some of the collocations you can make with 'seek'. Can you think of any others?