prosecute

American  

[pros-i-kyoot] / ˈprɒs ɪˌkjut /

verb (used with object)

prosecutes, present (3rd person singular) prosecuted, past participle, past prosecuting present participle

1. Law.

   1. to institute legal proceedings against (a person).

   2. to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.

   3. to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.

2. to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.

   to prosecute a war.

3. to carry on or practice.

   Synonyms:

   conduct, execute, discharge, perform

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verb (used without object)

prosecutes, present (3rd person singular) prosecuted, past participle, past prosecuting present participle

1. Law.

   1. to institute and carry on a legal prosecution.

   2. to act as prosecutor.

prosecute British  

/ ˈprɒsɪˌkjuːt /

verb

1. (tr) to bring a criminal action against (a person) for some offence

2. (intr)

   1. to seek redress by legal proceedings

   2. to institute or conduct a prosecution

3. (tr) to engage in or practise (a profession or trade)

4. (tr) to continue to do (a task, etc)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prosecutability
  noun
• nonprosecutable
  adjective
• prosecutable
  adjective
• quasi-prosecuted
  adjective
• well-prosecuted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• prosecuting
  present
• prosecuted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• prosecute
  simple
• prosecutes
  simple
• have prosecuted
  perfect
• has prosecuted
  perfect
• am prosecuting
  progressive
• are prosecuting
  progressive
• is prosecuting
  progressive
• have been prosecuting
  perfect progressive
• has been prosecuting
  perfect progressive

Past

• prosecuted
  simple
• had prosecuted
  perfect
• was prosecuting
  progressive
• were prosecuting
  progressive
• had been prosecuting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will prosecute
  simple
• will have prosecuted
  perfect
• will be prosecuting
  progressive
• will have been prosecuting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

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

Explanation

To prosecute is to participate in or pursue something to completion, like a government’s intention to prosecute a war. Prosecute is most often used for bringing legal action against an accused person or group. Prosecute comes from the Latin, “prosesutus,” meaning “follow after.” The legal sense of the word first appeared in the 1570s. A district attorney will often prosecute, by bringing legal charges and action against a person or group (watch any TV legal drama, and the prosecution will no doubt prosecute eventually). A company may prosecute by suing to protect against damages. Prosecute should not be confused with the word persecute, which means to harass or oppress.

Example Sentences

But as the network of civil-rights agencies grew, the transgressions those agencies aimed to prosecute diminished in number and import.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026

“The state has the tools in place to not only block price gouging during this emergency, but also to prosecute bad actors.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

After all, the ATF investigates cases, but U.S. attorneys prosecute them.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

"Instead of internalising that pain, reach outwards. There's nothing wrong with going to the police even if you decide not to prosecute."

From BBC • May 30, 2026

Defendants who are deemed incompetent can’t be tried in adversarial criminal proceedings—meaning that the State can't prosecute them unless they become well enough to defend themselves.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• arraign
• indict
• litigate
• sue
• summon
• try