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

It’s as if the world tacitly acknowledges that getting this tale truly right is a futile pursuit.

From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2026

Netflix abandoned its pursuit a few days later.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

While New Zealand were spirited and skilful in pursuit of a win to square the series, the Springboks' go-forward up front and the depth of their bench kept the All Blacks at bay.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

That he’s already 20 years old doesn’t hurt that pursuit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

But the dog was weak, and highly strung, and suffered a heart attack one bright December morning in the country, leaping from the porch in happy pursuit of a squirrel.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

A number of forces have successfully used drones to track illegal e-bike riders rather than engaging in risky pursuits.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

News helicopters are a vital part of news gathering in Southern California, helping chronicle brush fires, mass shootings and, of course, police pursuits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

In a cutthroat white-collar talent market, lawyers and bankers are listing quirky side pursuits like “building birdhouses” and “hot-dog eating.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

In a cutthroat white-collar talent market, lawyers and bankers are listing quirky side pursuits like ‘building birdhouses’ and ‘hot dog eating.’

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

The rest of the time, the time he was not watching his mother’s magic or thinking of airplanes, he spent in the idle pursuits of bachelors without work in small towns.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Related Words

• accomplishment
• activity
• career
• occupation
• undertaking