pursue
Americanverb (used with object)
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to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, etc.; chase.
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to follow close upon; go with; attend.
Bad luck pursued him.
- Synonyms:
- dog
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to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.).
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to proceed in accordance with (a method, plan, etc.).
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to carry on or continue (a course of action, a train of thought, an inquiry, studies, etc.).
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to continue to annoy, afflict, or trouble.
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to practice (an occupation, pastime, etc.).
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to continue to discuss (a subject, topic, etc.).
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to follow.
They pursued the river to its source. I felt their eyes pursuing me.
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to continue; go on with (one's course, a journey, etc.).
verb (used without object)
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to chase after someone or something; to follow in pursuit.
They spotted the suspect but decided not to pursue.
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to continue.
verb
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(also intr) to follow (a fugitive, etc) in order to capture or overtake
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(esp of something bad or unlucky) to follow closely or accompany
ill health pursued her
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to seek or strive to attain (some object, desire, etc)
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to follow the precepts of (a plan, policy, etc)
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to apply oneself to (one's studies, hobbies, etc)
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to follow persistently or seek to become acquainted with
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to continue to discuss or argue (a point, subject, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unpursuableadjective
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repursueverb (used with object)
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pursuernoun
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pursuableadjective
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outpursueverb (used with object)
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has pursuedperfect 3rd person singular
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have pursuedperfect
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has been pursuingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is pursuingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am pursuingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been pursuingperfect progressive
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are pursuingprogressive
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pursuingparticiple
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pursuessingular 3rd person
Past
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had pursuedperfect
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was pursuingprogressive singular
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had been pursuingperfect progressive
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were pursuingprogressive plural
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pursuedparticiple
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pursuedsimple
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing pursue
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 6
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"Creativity at Work" and "The Hidden Secrets of the Creative Mind"
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"Tribute to the Dog," Vocabulary from the speech
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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.
Appeared in the December 18, 2025, print edition as 'Irenic Pushes Integer to Pursue Sale'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025
Step 5: Pursue evidence that will support your desired result enough to make a notice of allegations.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2023
The counsel is simple: Pursue a bipartisan inquiry, follow the facts, don’t attempt to interfere with ongoing investigations and operate in good faith.
From New York Times • Feb. 16, 2023
Pursue a refund if you have a trip planned in the next month or two, experts say.
From Washington Post • Apr. 15, 2020
These various orbs, behold, in various speed Pursue the journeys at their birth decreed.
From The Lusiad or The Discovery of India, an Epic Poem by Camões, Luís de
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.
