Quest vs. Search — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on October 11, 2023
A quest is a journey or pursuit with a purpose, often symbolic, while a search is an act of seeking to find or discover something specific.
Difference Between Quest and Search
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Quest" and "search" both refer to the act of seeking, but their undertones and implications differ significantly. A quest often suggests a journey or an endeavor that's driven by a deeper, sometimes symbolic purpose. The word "quest" can evoke images of knights on a journey for the Holy Grail or an individual's quest for self-discovery, implying challenges, personal growth, and often transformation.
On the contrary, "search" is a more straightforward term that denotes the act of trying to locate, find, or discover something or someone. It doesn't necessarily carry the weight of personal transformation or symbolic undertones. For instance, a search can be as simple as looking for lost keys or using an online search engine to find information.
A quest can be seen as a form of search but is typically more prolonged and profound. While you can embark on a quest for truth or happiness, a search would usually have a defined objective and end, like searching for a document or a specific place.
Conversely, while every quest involves some form of search, not every search can be classified as a quest. Searching for a missing file on your computer is a task with a clear goal, but it lacks the profound depth and transformative potential often associated with quests.
To summarize, while both words revolve around seeking, a quest is a deeper, often symbolic journey with challenges, while a search is a more direct act of trying to find or discover something specific.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Journey or endeavor with deep, often symbolic meaning.
Act of trying to locate or discover.
Duration
Can be prolonged.
Typically shorter and more direct.
Undertaken By
Individuals or groups.
Anyone, including machines (like search engines).
Nature
Can be symbolic or transformative.
More literal and objective.
Examples
Quest for enlightenment, personal growth.
Search for a missing item, online information search.
Compare with Definitions
Quest
A journey with a symbolic purpose.
The protagonist's quest for redemption shapes the novel.
Search
The act of trying to find something.
He initiated a search for his lost wallet.
Quest
The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something; a search.
Search
An exploration to discover specific information.
Her online search yielded many results.
Quest
An expedition undertaken in medieval romance by a knight in order to perform a prescribed feat
The quest for the Holy Grail.
Search
To move around in, go through, or look through in an effort to find something
Searched the room for her missing earring.
Searched the desk for a pen.
Quest
An inquest.
Search
To make a careful examination or investigation of; probe
Search one's conscience for the right thing to do.
Quest
A jury appointed to take part in an inquest.
Search
To seek data matching a word, phrase, or pattern of characters in
Searched the internet for information about ostriches.
Quest
To search for something
Quested for knowledge.
Search
(Law) To examine (a person or property) for the purpose of discovering evidence of a crime.
Quest
To go on a quest.
Search
To search a place or space in order to find something
Searched all afternoon for my wallet.
Quest
To search for game or bay when sighting game, as a hound.
Search
To make a careful examination or investigation
Searching for the right words to say.
Quest
A journey or effort in pursuit of a goal (often lengthy, ambitious, or fervent); a mission.
Search
To use a search engine or other software to find any data matching a particular pattern.
Quest
The act of seeking, or looking after anything; attempt to find or obtain; search; pursuit.
To rove in quest of game, of a lost child, of property, etc.
Search
(Law) To make a search for evidence.
Quest
(obsolete) Request; desire; solicitation.
Search
An act of searching.
Quest
(obsolete) A group of people making search or inquiry.
Search
(Law) The examination of a person or property, as by a law enforcement officer, for the purpose of discovering evidence of a crime.
Quest
(obsolete) Inquest; jury of inquest.
Search
A control mechanism on an audio or video player that rapidly advances or reverses the playing of a recording.
Quest
(education) A short test.
Search
An attempt to find something.
With only five minutes until we were meant to leave, the search for the keys started in earnest.
Quest
(intransitive) To seek or pursue a goal; to undertake a mission or job.
Search
The act of searching in general.
Search is a hard problem for computers to solve efficiently.
Quest
(transitive) To search for something; to seek.
Search
(transitive) To look in (a place) for something.
I searched the garden for the keys and found them in the vegetable patch.
Quest
To locate and attach to a host animal.
Search
To look thoroughly.
The police are searching for evidence in his flat.
Quest
The act of seeking, or looking after anything; attempt to find or obtain; search; pursuit; as, to rove in quest of game, of a lost child, of property, etc.
Upon an hard adventure yet in quest.
Cease your quest of love.
There ended was his quest, there ceased his care.
Search
To look for, seek.
Quest
Request; desire; solicitation.
Gad not abroad at every quest and callOf an untrained hope or passion.
Search
To probe or examine (a wound).
Quest
Those who make search or inquiry, taken collectively.
The senate hath sent about three several quests to search you out.
Search
(obsolete) To examine; to try; to put to the test.
Quest
Inquest; jury of inquest.
What lawful quest have given their verdict ?
Search
To look over or through, for the purpose of finding something; to examine; to explore; as, to search the city.
They are come to search the house.
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Quest
To search for; to examine.
Search
To inquire after; to look for; to seek.
I will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
Enough is left besides to search and know.
Quest
To go on a quest; to make a search; to go in pursuit; to beg.
If his questing had been unsuccessful, he appeased the rage of hunger with some scraps of broken meat.
Search
To examine or explore by feeling with an instrument; to probe; as, to search a wound.
Quest
A search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria;
The pursuit of love
Life is more than the pursuance of fame
A quest for wealth
Search
To examine; to try; to put to the test.
Quest
The act of searching for something;
A quest for diamonds
Search
To seek; to look for something; to make inquiry, exploration, or examination; to hunt.
Once more search with me.
It sufficeth that they have once with care sifted the matter, and searched into all the particulars.
Quest
Make a search (for);
Things that die with their eyes open and questing
The animal came questing through the forest
Search
The act of seeking or looking for something; quest; inquiry; pursuit for finding something; examination.
Thus the orb he roamedWith narrow search, and with inspection deepConsidered every creature.
Nor did my search of liberty beginTill my black hairs were changed upon my chin.
Quest
Search the trail of (game);
The dog went off and quested
Search
The activity of looking thoroughly in order to find something or someone
Quest
Bark with prolonged noises, of dogs
Search
An investigation seeking answers;
A thorough search of the ledgers revealed nothing
The outcome justified the search
Quest
Seek alms, as for religious purposes
Search
An operation that determines whether one or more of a set of items has a specified property;
They wrote a program to do a table lookup
Quest
Express the need or desire for; ask for;
She requested an extra bed in her room
She called for room service
Search
The examination of alternative hypotheses;
His search for a move that would avoid checkmate was unsuccessful
Quest
A long or challenging pursuit.
His quest for the treasure took years.
Search
Boarding and inspecting a ship on the high seas;
Right of search
Quest
An endeavor to achieve or discover something.
The scientist was on a quest to find a cure.
Search
Try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of;
The police are searching for clues
They are searching for the missing man in the entire county
Quest
An exploration driven by passion or curiosity.
The artist’s quest led him to various cultures and practices.
Search
Search or seek;
We looked all day and finally found the child in the forest
Look elsewhere for the perfect gift!
Quest
A mission filled with obstacles and challenges.
The game centers around a knight's quest to save the kingdom.
Search
Inquire into
Search
Subject to a search;
The police searched the suspect
We searched the whole house for the missing keys
Search
An act of seeking with an objective.
The police conducted a search of the premises.
Search
An examination or investigation.
The detective's search for clues was meticulous.
Search
The process of scanning or looking through.
A quick search of the room revealed no evidence.
Common Curiosities
Can a quest be short-lived?
While quests typically imply prolonged endeavors, they can be shorter if the purpose is achieved quickly.
Can machines undertake quests?
Machines can execute searches, but quests, often being symbolic and personal, are typically human endeavors.
Is every search a quest?
No, while every quest involves searching, not every search has the depth or transformative nature of a quest.
Are quests always serious?
While often profound, quests can be lighthearted or recreational, like a quest to visit every local café.
Can a search result in unexpected findings?
Absolutely, searches can sometimes lead to surprising or unintended discoveries.
What tools can aid in a search?
Depending on context, tools like search engines, maps, databases, or even physical tools like metal detectors can assist.
Are quests always individual?
No, groups or communities can share quests, like a shared quest for justice.
Is a search goal always clear?
Not necessarily. Sometimes one searches without knowing exactly what they're looking for.
Is a search always physical?
No, searches can be intangible, like searching for information online.
What might prompt a person to start a quest?
Personal growth, discovery, challenges, or seeking deeper meaning can initiate quests.
How is a search different in digital context?
Digital searches often involve algorithms, databases, and search engines, making them precise and expansive.
Can a search be unconscious?
Yes, people can search for memories or feelings unconsciously.
Can a quest be unintentional?
While quests are typically purpose-driven, one can find themselves on an unplanned quest due to circumstances.
Can quests be virtual, like in video games?
Yes, many games are built around quests with goals, challenges, and rewards.
Is the end of a quest always certain?
No, some quests, especially symbolic ones, might not have clear endpoints.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
