Cool MateSeeking vs Was looking for something
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Seeking
Top 2,000 (common)
Was looking for something
Top 2,000 (common)
| Seeking | Was looking for something | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈsiːkɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈsiːkɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 //wəz ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔː ˈsʌmθɪŋ//🇺🇸 //wəz ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔr ˈsʌmθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Looking for something or someone. | trying to find something |
| Example | She is seeking a new job in marketing. | She was looking for something important in her bag. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | seeking advice, seeking assistance, seeking opportunities, seeking truth, seeking guidance | looking for help, looking for information, looking for answers |
| Antonyms | avoiding, ignoring, disregarding | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'seeked' instead of 'sought' as the past tense., Incorrectly using 'seeking' as a noun., Misunderstanding the context; 'seeking' suggests active pursuit. | Confused with 'look at' — meaning to visually observe something., Misuse the tense — e.g., saying 'I look for something'., Forgetting to include 'for' — saying 'was looking something'. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. 'Seeking' may appear in job descriptions or personal pursuits. Avoid overly casual scenarios. | Use in both spoken and written contexts when you want to express that you were trying to find something. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Seeking vs Was looking for something
What's the difference between Seeking and Was looking for something?
Seeking: Looking for something or someone. Was looking for something: trying to find something
Can you show an example of each?
Seeking: She is seeking a new job in marketing. Was looking for something: She was looking for something important in her bag.
Can I use Seeking and Was looking for something interchangeably?
Not always. Seeking and Was looking for something are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.