pursuing

[per-soo-ing]

adjective

1. following someone or something in order to overtake, capture, woo, etc..

   Informed via radio that the alleged crime concerned an unpaid bill, the pursuing officers took down the vehicle's license plate information and stopped the chase.

2. continuing to accompany or affect someone, as success, bad luck, or fame.

   They renewed their love, were once more torn apart by pursuing misfortune, but in the end were happily reunited.

3. following or seeming to follow someone or something with one’s eyes, voice, thoughts, etc..

   He stared fearfully at the pursuing eyes of a portrait on the wall.

4. following or coming immediately after; ensuing.

   The program focuses on core courses in the first semester, and allows students to take their electives in the pursuing two semesters.

Other Word Forms

• unpursuing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursuing¹

pursu(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

DOJ investigators who probed Comey’s 2020 testimony warned against pursuing charges in an internal memo last month, saying that the prosecution would face “likely insurmountable problems.”

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The government could consider pursuing more curbs on protest laws, including targeting some of the chants used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the prime minister has said.

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He also met recipients of the Prince William Bursary, which supports young people pursuing a career in film or TV and helps to pay for things such as training courses, equipment and relocating.

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However, he decided against pursuing the idea because he could not devote sufficient time to "return the club to the healthy condition I left it in".

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Kelly Sharkey, a North Charleston mother of two, was exasperated, questioning what lawmakers’ endgame is in pursuing SB 323 and whose lives they really wish to protect.

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