A corpus-based study of two synonyms: seek and search (for)

This study investigates the similarities and differences between the synonymousverbs seek and search (for) in terms of meaning and collocation. Data were collectedfrom two major learners’ dictionaries: Oxford Dictionary (2005) and LongmanDictionary (2014) to compare the meaning of the verbs. Additionally, the Corpus ofContemporary American English (COCA) was utilized to analyze the collocations.Collocates were selected based on frequency and a Mutual Information (MI) score of 3or higher and divided by topic based on semantic preferences. The findings indicatethat seek and search (for) cannot be used interchangeably. While both share a coremeaning of looking for something, they exhibit subtle differences in detailed usage.Despite sharing some adverb collocates and themes, the verbs show distinct differencesin their noun collocates. Most noun collocates of seek are associated with the theme ofSupport, such as help, advice, and assistance, whereas those of search (for) relate toRecovery, including survivor, wreckage, and remains. Additionally, both verbs relateto the theme of Place, but differ in type: seek is linked to places of safety such as shelter,refuge and asylum, while search (for) connects to housing-related places such asapartment, listing. The study concludes that a deeper understanding of distinctions,supported by corpus-based evidence, can enhance English learners’ ability to selectappropriate vocabulary, thereby improving precision in communication.