Seeking vs. Looking — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Seeking implies a deeper quest or pursuit, often intangible. Looking often pertains to a visual or superficial search.
Difference Between Seeking and Looking
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Seeking and Looking are both verbs associated with the action of trying to find or obtain something. However, Seeking often denotes a sense of purpose, intent, or a deeper quest. For instance, one might be seeking enlightenment or seeking justice. Looking, on the other hand, tends to relate more to the act of visually searching for something, like looking for a lost key or looking at a painting.
The word Seeking can have more abstract connotations, and its object can sometimes be intangible. For instance, someone might be seeking happiness, approval, or a sense of belonging. While Looking can be used abstractly, its primary usage often remains on the tangible and immediate side.
From a grammatical standpoint, Seeking is often followed by a direct object without the need for a preposition. For example, "He is seeking employment." In contrast, Looking is often followed by a preposition, like "looking for" or "looking at," before its object.
The intensity or depth of the search can also differentiate Seeking from Looking. Seeking can imply a more prolonged or earnest effort to obtain or achieve something. Looking might be more momentary or surface-level. Someone might look for a book on a shelf, but seek knowledge.
In summary, while both Seeking and Looking involve a form of search or quest, Seeking often carries a deeper, more intense connotation, and Looking frequently pertains to visual searches or observations.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Deeper quest or pursuit
Visual or superficial search
Usage
Often more abstract
Primarily tangible
Grammar
Usually doesn't require a preposition
Often used with prepositions like "for" or "at"
Duration/Intensity
Implies a more prolonged or earnest effort
More momentary or surface-level
Example
Seeking approval, Seeking knowledge
Looking for keys, Looking at a painting
Compare with Definitions
Seeking
Attempt to find something.
They are seeking a cure for the disease.
Looking
Have the appearance or expression of.
He's looking tired today.
Seeking
Search or quest for knowledge or truth.
Philosophers have been seeking truth for centuries.
Looking
Direct one's gaze in a specified direction.
She was looking out of the window.
Seeking
Try to attain a specific goal or condition.
Many are seeking happiness in material possessions.
Looking
Search for someone or something.
I've been looking for my glasses everywhere.
Seeking
Attempt or desire to obtain or achieve.
She is seeking a promotion at work.
Looking
Consider or contemplate something.
He's looking into the possibility of starting a business.
Seeking
Ask for something from someone.
He is seeking help from a professional.
Looking
Looking is the act of intentionally focusing visual perception on someone or something, for the purpose of obtaining information, and possibly to convey interest or another sentiment. A large number of troponyms exist to describe variations of looking at things, with prominent examples including the verbs "stare, gaze, gape, gawp, gawk, goggle, glare, glimpse, glance, peek, peep, peer, squint, leer, gloat, and ogle".
Seeking
To try to locate or discover; search for
Animals seeking prey.
Looking
To employ one's sight, especially in a given direction or on a given object
Looking out the window.
Looked at the floor.
Seeking
To endeavor to obtain or reach
Seek a college education.
Looking
To search
We looked all afternoon but could not find it.
Seeking
To go to or toward
Water seeks its own level.
Looking
To turn one's glance or gaze
Looked to the right.
Seeking
To inquire for; request
Seek directions from a police officer.
Looking
To turn one's attention; attend
Looked to his neglected guitar during vacation.
Looked at the evidence.
Seeking
To try; endeavor
Seek to do good.
Looking
To turn one's expectations
Looked to us for a solution.
Seeking
To make a search or investigation
Seek and you will find.
Looking
To seem or appear to be
Look morose.
Seeking
The act of one who seeks; a search or quest to find something.
Looking
To face in a specified direction
The cottage looks on the river.
Seeking
(in combination) That seeks something specified.
Looking
To turn one's eyes on
Looked him in the eye.
Seeking
Present participle of seek
Looking
To convey by one's expression
Looked annoyance at the judge.
Looked his devotion to me.
Seeking
The act of searching for something;
A quest for diamonds
Looking
To have an appearance of conformity with
He looks his age. She dressed up to look the part.
Seeking
An attempt to acquire or gain something
Looking
To appear to be
Looked the fool in one version of the story.
Seeking
Trying to obtain;
Profit-seeking producers
People seeking happiness
Looking
The act or instance of looking
I took just one look and I was sure.
Looking
A gaze or glance expressive of something
Gave her a mournful look.
Looking
Appearance or aspect
A look of great age.
Looking
Looks Physical appearance, especially when pleasing.
Looking
A distinctive, unified manner of dress or fashion
The preferred look for this fall.
Looking
Present participle of look
Looking
As the last part of compound adjectives: relating to or having the appearance of.
Looking
The act of one who looks; a glance.
Looking
Having a certain look or appearance; - often compounded with adjectives; as, good-looking, grand-looking, etc.
Looking
The act of one who looks; a glance.
Looking
The manner in which one looks; appearance; countenance; face.
All dreary was his cheer and his looking.
Looking
The act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually;
He went out to have a look
His look was fixed on her eyes
He gave it a good looking at
His camera does his looking for him
Looking
The act of searching visually
Looking
Appearing to be as specified; usually used as combining forms;
Left their clothes dirty looking
A most disagreeable looking character
Angry-looking
Liquid-looking
Severe-looking policemen on noble horses
Fine-sounding phrases
Taken in by high-sounding talk
Looking
Expect or hope for.
I'm looking forward to our meeting.
Common Curiosities
Can Looking be used for non-visual contexts?
Yes, e.g., "looking forward to" denotes anticipation, not a visual action.
Is it correct to say "Seeking for a job"?
While not grammatically incorrect, "Seeking a job" is more common.
Is Looking always present tense?
No, it can be in various tenses: "looked," "will look," "is looking," etc.
Is Seeking always a deep quest?
Not always, but it often has a deeper or more earnest connotation than Looking.
Can Seeking be synonymous with Asking?
In contexts like "seeking advice," it can be similar to asking.
Do Seeking and Looking always need objects?
Often, but not always. E.g., "He's looking tired" vs. "He's seeking."
Which is more intense, Seeking or Looking?
Generally, Seeking implies a deeper or more intense quest.
Can Seeking mean searching visually?
Yes, but it often has a deeper or broader implication than merely looking.
Can I replace Looking with Seeking in most sentences?
Not always. They can have different connotations, and the sentence's context matters.
How do Seeking and Looking differ in terms of effort?
Seeking often implies more effort or earnestness, while Looking can be more casual.
Does Looking always imply a physical search?
No, it can be abstract, like "looking for answers" or "looking forward to."
Which is more active, Seeking or Looking?
Both are active, but Seeking often implies a more proactive or determined effort.
Can you look without seeking something?
Yes, one can look at something passively without an intent to find.
Is "Seeking knowledge" similar to "Looking for information"?
They're similar but Seeking knowledge implies a deeper quest, while looking for information might be more immediate.
Is it correct to say "Seeking at the horizon"?
No, "Looking at the horizon" would be more appropriate.
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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.
