quest

Everyday

1. A long search or journey to find or get something important: «a quest for the lost treasure». tree →
2. A strong effort to achieve something: «the quest for a cure». tree →
3. (games) A mission or task in a video game or story that the player must complete. tree →
4. (verb, literary) To search for something. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, myths and legends heroes go on quests (King Arthur's knights and the Holy Grail); in games a quest is a mission; in science and news people are on a quest for answers. Phrases: «go on a quest», «the quest for», «a side quest».

Examples

• The knights set out on a quest to find the Holy Grail. tree →
• Frodo's quest was to destroy the ring. tree →
• Scientists continue their quest for a cure for cancer. tree →
• I finished three side quests in the game today. tree →
• Our quest to find the lost remote took all afternoon. tree →
• Her quest for a gold medal took years of training. tree →
• The Fox and the Hare are sent in quest of the magic fluid. tree →

Note

Countable: quest, quests. Use «a quest for» + thing or «a quest to» + verb. The verb is old-fashioned and literary. Related to «question» and «request» (all from Latin «quaerere», to seek).