quest

1 of 2

noun

ˈkwest 

1

a

: a jury of inquest

b

: investigation

2

: an act or instance of seeking:

a

: pursuit, search

b

: a chivalrous enterprise in medieval romance usually involving an adventurous journey

3

obsolete : a person or group of persons who search or make inquiry

quest

2 of 2

verb

quested; questing; quests

intransitive verb

1

of a dog

a

: to search a trail

b

: bay

2

: to go on a quest

transitive verb

1

: to search for

2

: to ask for

quester noun

Synonyms

Noun

• hunt
• search

Verb

• call (for)
• claim
• clamor (for)
• command
• demand
• enjoin
• exact
• insist (on)
• press (for)
• stipulate (for)

Examples of quest in a Sentence

Noun

They went on a quest for gold.

The team's quest to win a championship finally came to an end.

He refuses to give up his quest to discover the truth.

Verb

They were questing for gold.

I respectfully quest your assistance in this matter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This latest version reinforces APL’s quest to make high-quality sound accessible to all, from top-tier recording professionals to those of us who simply love great music. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

But in a new mock trade proposal, the Lakers land some wing help to improve their quest for another title. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Verb

That’s a shame, because Nichols’ passionate vision of alienated American men, tragically in search of purpose, questing for freedom, couldn’t be timelier. —Steven Gaydos, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024

The suspense feels fabricated, an imposition of a linear structure on this admirably questing, ranging book. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French queste, Vulgar Latin *quaesta, from Latin, feminine of quaestus, past participle of quaerere

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing quest

• in quest of
• vision quest

Kids Definition

quest

1 of 2 noun

ˈkwest 

1

: an act or instance of seeking

2

a

: search entry 2

in quest of game

b

: an adventurous journey by a knight in a tale of olden days

quest

2 of 2 verb

1

: to go on a quest : seek

2

: to search for : pursue

3

: to ask for : demand