pursuit

American  

[per-soot] / pərˈsut /

noun

• pursuits
  plural

1. the act of pursuing.

   in pursuit of the fox.

   Synonyms:

   hunt, chase

2. an effort to secure or attain; quest.

   the pursuit of happiness.

   Synonyms:

   search

3. any occupation, pastime, or the like, in which a person is engaged regularly or customarily.

   literary pursuits.

   Synonyms:

   inclination, preoccupation, activity

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pursuit British  

/ pəˈsjuːt /

noun

1. 1. the act of pursuing, chasing, or striving after

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pursuit plane

2. an occupation, hobby, or pastime

3. (in cycling) a race in which the riders set off at intervals along the track and attempt to overtake each other

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pursuits
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pursuit

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French purseute, from Vulgar Latin prōsequita (unrecorded), from Latin prōsecūta, feminine of prōsecūtus “followed,” past participle of prōsequī “to follow, continue”; see pursue

Explanation

A pursuit is a chase or a quest for something. When a guard runs after an escaping jewel thief, she's in pursuit — while the thief may have stolen the jewels because he was in pursuit of wealth. Whether it's a police officer in a car chase or a student working towards a college degree at a university in the tropics, both can be considered in “hot pursuit.”  Derived from the Anglo-French purseute, pursuit means the act of pursuing or striving towards goals. In the late 14th century it implied persecution, but things have changed since then.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pursuit pursuits

Among Japan’s concerns, the report listed China’s aggressive pursuit of its expansive maritime claims, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear advances.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

There is an uncomfortable contradiction in China’s pursuit of those consumers.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026

As the group's pursuit of global titles and world records has gathered momentum, it has left no shortage of prospective athletes desperate to be invited in.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

“People don’t hear the sirens during pursuit — maybe they’re not paying attention — and you risk cars getting hit in intersections or other places.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

There went the badger with her pursuit of fun again.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Already a successful publicly traded company thanks to its cash-printing Search business, Google had the financial resources to support DeepMind’s scientific pursuits — for a while, at least.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

Young told the court about his chaotic upbringing and his recent scholarly pursuits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

That is one reason investors should view their shiny new pursuits with some caution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

The result is that people now see shared pursuits — a weekly tennis game, a book club, a knitting circle — as potential products to claim and monetize.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

“I am laying down good intentions, which I believe durable as flint. Certainly, my associates and pursuits shall be other than they have been.”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Related Words

• accomplishment
• activity
• career
• occupation
• undertaking