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

The contrast is powerful, drawing attention to the chimerical nature of her quest. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

There could also be outgoing U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, who was defeated last spring in her quest for the U.S. Senate. —Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

Verb

That fundamental drive — that feeling of questing clarity, of the necessity of returning to an old play to excavate its glowing, undiminished heart — is what Kenny Leon’s new Broadway production lacks. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024

So, keep paying your mortgage, but just hope the scientists will speed this detection quest up a little bit. —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 2 Oct. 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