they sought to find vs they tried to find

Both phrases are correct and commonly used in English. They have similar meanings and can be used interchangeably in most contexts.

Last updated: April 01, 2024 • 795 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"they sought to find "

This phrase means that someone attempted to find something with determination or purpose.

Examples:

They sought to find a solution to the problem.
The explorers sought to find the lost city.
She sought to find inner peace through meditation.

Show examples from the web [+]

They sought to find out the effect of sleeping with our feet facing the West, and the best direction to sleep in.
For over a year they sought to find out on whether it is a scam- Or if the material is genuine.
We only sought to find the father that abandoned us and throw ourselves upon his love.
There are, however, some other issues where the Italian Presidency has not sought to find a compromise solution, and I do not understand their reasoning.
10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
A helpful officer sought to find a post where Stroszek could spend the rest of the war - without seeing any more action.
Mr Jarzembowski sought to find even-handed answers to these questions, and I therefore wish to congratulate him.
Several journalists, including Mustafa Balbay and Tuncay Özkan, who have sought to find out what happened in this case, have now been held in prison for more than two years on remand because of an alleged risk of suppressing evidence and absconding.
That is why the Commission has sought to find out whether additional legislative measures need to be taken at EU level and, if so, which new, specific requirements and criteria they would include for waste shipment inspections.
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words; and that which was written is upright, words of truth.
A wide consultation process has taken place and your rapporteur has sought to find a common line with the Commission and the Council(as expressed in its common orientation).
Daniel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel
From a very young age he was confronted with the harsh living conditions of silk workers. Through his passion for architecture, he sought to find a solution to the problem of social housing.
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin by thanking you for your contributions to this debate; they were all very constructive and sought to find a solution to this very grave problem.
In his studies on mechanical flight, Leonardo sought to find optimal combinations of a multitude of elementary mechanical devices, including pulleys, cranks, toothed wheels, joints, transmission systems, high-strength axles and shock absorbers.
I should first like to commend the remarkable work carried out by our rapporteur, Mr Capoulas Santos, who has continually sought to find a balanced and stable compromise to enable the European Parliament to speak with one voice in the face of a divided and uncertain Council.
When Eurocontrol sought to find some different approaches to the ash cloud, it was not an easy decision or easy discussion because it was a matter of deciding to take enormous responsibility for the safety of aviation.
The family blood you sought to find shall be what lays you low in kind.

Alternatives:

they tried to find
they attempted to find
they endeavored to find
they strived to find
they aimed to find

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"they tried to find"

This phrase means that someone made an effort to find something, often implying that they were not successful.

Examples:

They tried to find the missing keys.
He tried to find a new job.
The team tried to find a compromise.

Show examples from the web [+]

In that year they tried to find a new flag and it was adopted the current drawing, which was created by the Araldic leader of South Africa.
The surrounding townsfolk were horrified and they tried to find the boy, but to this day he has not been found.
They told me that when they tried to find out what happened to David, they were warned to stop asking questions and to leave the country.
They were not related to her, but they tried to find out, "How can we use..." They used a cycle, they put together a breathing apparatus.
The globetrotters on the road of the '60 '70's, were opened to new experiences, new levels of consciousness; they tried to find a new spirituality and refused the social homologation
They were not related to her, but they tried to find out, "How can we use..."
They tried to find a solution but without success.
They tried to find him.

Alternatives:

they sought to find
they attempted to find
they endeavored to find
they strived to find
they aimed to find

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they sought to find vs they tried to find