prosecute
Americanverb (used with object)
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Law.
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to institute legal proceedings against (a person).
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to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.
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to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.
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to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion.
to prosecute a war.
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to carry on or practice.
verb (used without object)
verb
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(tr) to bring a criminal action against (a person) for some offence
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(intr)
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to seek redress by legal proceedings
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to institute or conduct a prosecution
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(tr) to engage in or practise (a profession or trade)
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(tr) to continue to do (a task, etc)
Other Word Forms
- nonprosecutable adjective
- prosecutability noun
- prosecutable adjective
- quasi-prosecuted adjective
- reprosecute verb (used with object)
- well-prosecuted adjective
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone — judges included — who defraud public benefits intended to help those in need.”
From Los Angeles Times
Leavitt added that the court order authorising the seizure of the vessel also covered its crew, meaning they could be brought to the US and prosecuted.
From BBC
He was tried in 2002 as an adult under Proposition 21, a state initiative approved by voters a year prior to the attack that made it easier for teenagers to be prosecuted as adults.
From Los Angeles Times
Insider trading is illegal in the stock market, and regulators routinely monitor suspicious trades ahead of big corporate news so they can prosecute insiders who attempt to enrich themselves using nonpublic information.
James Neary, prosecuting, said at the "well attended" service, Carley wore medals including for service in Iraq and Syria and approached organisers to introduce himself.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
