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Meaning of "sought-after"

In the sentense "he is the most sought-after"

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AussieInBg profile picture AussieInBgAugust 2020
"sought after"... "sought" is the past form of "seek" or "to look for".

To "seek after" was an older phrasal verb in English meaning "to look for". So, "sought after" comes from this phrasal verb. The literal meaning was literally "sth/sb searched for".

Now, it is a bit more idiomatic. It has come to mean sth that many people look for because it is popular or because people want to possess it. Occasionally, it does still get used literally, but it feels a little archaic used like that.
  • AussieInBg profile picture AussieInBgAugust 2020
    The idiomatic form is very much used in speaking, but the literal form is "strange" to hear