pursue

[per-soo]

verb (used with object)

pursued, pursuing 

1. to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, etc.; chase.

   Synonyms: trail, track, hunt

2. to follow close upon; go with; attend.

   Bad luck pursued him.

   Synonyms: dog

3. to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.).

4. to proceed in accordance with (a method, plan, etc.).

5. to carry on or continue (a course of action, a train of thought, an inquiry, studies, etc.).

6. to continue to annoy, afflict, or trouble.

7. to practice (an occupation, pastime, etc.).

8. to continue to discuss (a subject, topic, etc.).

9. to follow.

   They pursued the river to its source. I felt their eyes pursuing me.

10. to continue; go on with (one's course, a journey, etc.).

verb (used without object)

pursued, pursuing 

1. to chase after someone or something; to follow in pursuit.

   They spotted the suspect but decided not to pursue.

2. to continue.

pursue

/ pəˈsjuː /

verb

1. (also intr) to follow (a fugitive, etc) in order to capture or overtake

2. (esp of something bad or unlucky) to follow closely or accompany

   ill health pursued her

3. to seek or strive to attain (some object, desire, etc)

4. to follow the precepts of (a plan, policy, etc)

5. to apply oneself to (one's studies, hobbies, etc)

6. to follow persistently or seek to become acquainted with

7. to continue to discuss or argue (a point, subject, etc)

Other Word Forms

• pursuable adjective
• outpursue verb (used with object)
• repursue verb (used with object)
• unpursuable adjective
• pursuer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursue¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pursuen, from Anglo-French pursuer, ultimately from Latin prōsequī “to pursue, follow, continue”; pro- ¹, sue, prosecute

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursue¹

C13: from Anglo-Norman pursiwer, from Old French poursivre, from Latin prōsequī to follow after

Example Sentences

Bondi said the Justice Department would “pursue” the investigation with “urgency and integrity,” in a post on X. “Thank you, Mr. President,” Bondi wrote.

Read more on Salon

Xi has ordered the Chinese military to be ready for a military takeover of Taiwan, if necessary, by 2027, according to U.S. intelligence, though it doesn’t mean that he will pursue this soon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Had the district wanted to end it, it would have monitored classrooms during the teach-in, disciplined those who imposed their own beliefs, and interviewed some of the Jewish families that pursued interdistrict transfers, she said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The UK government is currently pursuing changes in the law that would ban the use of NDAs in cases of employees who have been subjected to harassment, abuse or discrimination in the workplace.

Read more on BBC

The latest vessel programme is aimed at countering North Korea, which recently revealed that it was pursuing its own nuclear submarine programme.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• conduct 
• continue 
• engage in www.thesaurus.com
• maintain 
• practice 
• proceed 
• prosecute 
• tackle