quest

UK: /ˈkwɛst/ US: /kwɛst/ ,(kwest)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

quest /kwɛst/   n. [countable]

1. a search:
   a single-minded quest for truth.
2. Literature a trip made as an adventure in search of something:
   the quest for the Holy Grail.

v. [no object]

3. to search;
   seek:
   to quest after hidden treasure.
4. to go on a quest.

Idioms

5. in quest of, in search of.

See -ques-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

quest  (kwest), n. 

1. a search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something:
   a quest for uranium mines; a quest for knowledge.
2. Literature [Medieval Romance.] an adventurous expedition undertaken by a knight or knights to secure or achieve something:
   the quest of the Holy Grail.
3. those engaged in such an expedition.
4. British Terms inquest.
5. [Obs.] a jury of inquest.

v.i. 

6. to search;
   seek (often fol. by for or after):
   to quest after hidden treasure.
7. to go on a quest.
8. Sport [Hunting.] (of a dog)
   • to search for game.
   • to bay or give tongue in pursuit of game.

v.t. 

9. to search or seek for;
   pursue.

• Old French quester, derivative of the noun, nominal
• Latin quaesīta, feminine past participle of quaerere to seek; (verb, verbal) Middle English questen
• Old French
• (noun, nominal) Middle English queste 1275–1325

quest′er, n. 
quest′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

1. hunt, seeking, journey, mission, enterprise.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

quest / kwɛst/ noun

1. the act or an instance of looking for or seeking; search
2. (in medieval romance) an expedition by a knight or company of knights to accomplish some prescribed task, such as finding the Holy Grail
3. the object of a search; goal or target

verb (mainly intr)

1. followed by for or after: to go in search (of)
2. (of gun dogs or hounds) to search for game
3. (also tr) to go in search of (a thing); seek or pursue

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French queste, from Latin quaesita sought, from quaerere to seek

ˈquester noun

ˈquesting adjective

ˈquestingly adverb