prosecute

American

[pros-i-kyoot] / ˈprɒs ɪˌkyut /

verb (used with object)

prosecuted, prosecuting

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

to prosecute a war.
to carry on or practice.

Synonyms:

conduct, execute, discharge, perform

verb (used without object)

prosecuted, prosecuting

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

prosecute British

/ ˈprɒsɪˌkjuːt /

verb

(tr) to bring a criminal action against (a person) for some offence
(intr)
1. to seek redress by legal proceedings
2. to institute or conduct a prosecution
(tr) to engage in or practise (a profession or trade)
(tr) to continue to do (a task, etc)

"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

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.

Her response to questions about the DOJ’s failure to prosecute Epstein’s accomplices with the statement “the Dow is over $50,000 right now” became an immediate punch line.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

The DOJ routinely declines to prosecute cases for any number of reasons, including insufficient evidence or because a case is not a priority for enforcement.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

Cambodian authorities have vowed to stamp out the business by the end of next month, vowing to prosecute low-level scammers, bosses and landlords of scam sites alike.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

For the ICC, the Duterte case is a test of the court's ability to prosecute a former head of state over domestic policies.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

“You are, I think, a little bit contemptuous of the way I prosecute my inquiries,” he said with a twinkle.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023