pursuer

American  

[per-soo-er] / pərˈsu ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that pursues.

2. Scots Law, Ecclesiastical Law. a plaintiff or complainant.

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Etymology

Origin of pursuer

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; pursue + -er ¹

Explanation

A pursuer is someone who is chasing someone or something. You could be a pursuer of truth and beauty, or perhaps a pursuer of the kid who took your lunch money. To pursue is to chase something, like a dog pursuing a squirrel. In that situation, the dog is a pursuer. Someone who’s trying to ask someone else out on a date is a pursuer. When the police are on a manhunt for a criminal, the police are pursuers. You could also say someone is a pursuer of a goal, like a pursuer of a medical degree. All pursuers want something and they're going after it.

Example Sentences

A master of disguise, an evil genius with plenty of tricks up his wings and a relentless pursuer of retribution, Feathers McGraw nests among cinema’s great villains without ever having crooned a single chirp.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2024

Her time was 16 minutes, 57.6 seconds, more than 30 seconds faster than her next closest pursuer.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2024

His delicate chip to the par-five 16th was a shot of sheer class, having seen his plucky pursuer Rose smash a 300-yard driver off the deck on to the green.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2024

The Celtics won their 11th straight game on Sunday to improve to an NBA-best 48-12 on the season — six wins more than their closest pursuer.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 4, 2024

The camera owner—a burly man twice the size and height of the one chasing Emily and James—steadied his tripod with one hand and grabbed the pursuer with his other.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman