prosecute

[ pros-i-kyoot ]

See synonyms for: prosecute prosecutes on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),pros·e·cut·ed, pros·e·cut·ing.

Law.
- to institute legal proceedings against (a person).
- to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.
- to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.
to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion: to prosecute a war.

to carry on or practice.

verb (used without object),pros·e·cut·ed, pros·e·cut·ing.

Law.
- to institute and carry on a legal prosecution.
- to act as prosecutor.

Origin of prosecute

1400–50; late Middle English prosecuten to follow up, go on with <Latin prōsecūtus, past participle of prōsequī to pursue, proceed with, equivalent to prō-pro-¹ + secū-, variant stem of sequī to follow + -tus past participle suffix

Other words for prosecute

3	perform, discharge, execute, conduct

See synonyms for prosecute on Thesaurus.com

Other words from prosecute

pros·e·cut·a·ble, adjective
pros·e·cut·a·bil·i·ty, noun
non·pros·e·cut·a·ble, adjective
qua·si-pros·e·cut·ed, adjective
re·pros·e·cute, verb (used with object), re·pros·e·cut·ed, re·pros·e·cut·ing.
well-pros·e·cut·ed, adjective

Words that may be confused with prosecute

persecute, prosecute

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prosecute in a sentence

In neither case did the authorities prosecute the staffing agencies that employed the minors or the factories that, knowingly or not, benefited from their labor.
Inside the Lives of Immigrant Teens Working Dangerous Night Shifts in Suburban Factories | by Melissa Sanchez | November 19, 2020 | ProPublica
They refuse to prosecute what is sometimes called lifestyle crimes.
The Trailer: Republicans build their own fan clubs in Iowa | David Weigel | October 29, 2020 | Washington Post
A judge last month dismissed the charges on grounds there was no probable cause to prosecute him.
Puerto Rico LGBTQ activist blocked from Facebook accounts for two months | Kaela Roeder | October 23, 2020 | Washington Blade
If those arrested this summer were actually prosecuted, it would mark a dramatic uptick in such prosecutions.
Morning Report: Where Unlawful Assembly Arrests Stand | Voice of San Diego | October 12, 2020 | Voice of San Diego
If all SDPD arrests for unlawful assembly this year were prosecuted, it would mark a gigantic increase in such prosecutions, records obtained by Voice of San Diego show.
No Unlawful Assembly Charges So Far Following Dozens of Arrests | Brittany Cruz-Fejeran and Ashly McGlone | October 12, 2020 | Voice of San Diego

British Dictionary definitions for prosecute

prosecute

/ (ˈprɒsɪˌkjuːt) /

verb

(tr) to bring a criminal action against (a person) for some offence
(intr)
- to seek redress by legal proceedings
- to institute or conduct a prosecution

(tr) to engage in or practise (a profession or trade)
(tr) to continue to do (a task, etc)

Origin of prosecute

C15: from Latin prōsequī to follow, from prō- forward + sequī to follow

Derived forms of prosecute

prosecutable, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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