pursue

American  

[per-soo] / pərˈsu /

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.).

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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 British  

/ 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)

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of pursue

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

Explanation

Use the verb pursue when you're chasing after someone or something. A hungry lion might pursue a zebra, the paparazzi might pursue a celebrity, and a young dancer might pursue her dream of becoming a prima ballerina. Pursue originally meant "to follow with hostile intent," from a Latin root word, prosequi, "follow, accompany, follow after, or follow up." Today, when you pursue someone, it's not necessarily with bad intentions. A police officer, for example, might pursue a criminal, and your dog might pursue your cat around the house just for fun. If you pursue a career in journalism, you are working to achieve it. Likewise, you pursue a strategy or a hobby if you do it consistently.

Example Sentences

Brockman also testified that when Musk announced his departure from OpenAI in February 2018, he told staff he intended to pursue AI development inside Tesla without regard for safety.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

“However, the sudden and sustained rise in fuel prices in recent weeks ultimately has left us with no alternative but to pursue an orderly wind-down of the Company.”

From Slate • May 5, 2026

The Justice Department offered private assurances that it would pursue a criminal referral only if the Fed’s inspector general—whose audit Powell had requested last July—found wrongdoing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

The reason Paxton could pursue such action, the reason the Dallas city charter even requires hiring more officers, was due in large part to a man named Art Martinez de Vara.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

Billy, who was called opinionated, had strong ideas about which animals to pursue.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• conduct
• continue
• engage in
• maintain
• practice
• proceed
• prosecute
• tackle