pursuit
Americannoun
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the act of pursuing.
in pursuit of the fox.
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an effort to secure or attain; quest.
the pursuit of happiness.
- Synonyms:
- search
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any occupation, pastime, or the like, in which a person is engaged regularly or customarily.
literary pursuits.
- Synonyms:
- inclination, preoccupation, activity
noun
-
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the act of pursuing, chasing, or striving after
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( as modifier )
a pursuit plane
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an occupation, hobby, or pastime
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(in cycling) a race in which the riders set off at intervals along the track and attempt to overtake each other
Etymology
Origin of pursuit
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French purseute, from Vulgar Latin prōsequita (unrecorded), from Latin prōsecūta, feminine of prōsecūtus “followed,” past participle of prōsequī “to follow, continue”; see pursue
Explanation
A pursuit is a chase or a quest for something. When a guard runs after an escaping jewel thief, she's in pursuit — while the thief may have stolen the jewels because he was in pursuit of wealth. Whether it's a police officer in a car chase or a student working towards a college degree at a university in the tropics, both can be considered in “hot pursuit.” Derived from the Anglo-French purseute, pursuit means the act of pursuing or striving towards goals. In the late 14th century it implied persecution, but things have changed since then.
Vocabulary lists containing pursuit
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 1
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Latin Love, Vol III: seguire
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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.
England were outclassed with both bat and ball in the first game of their three-match T20 series against India, but Knight's 21 from 24 balls stalled England's progress in pursuit of 189 to win.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
Her pursuit of excellence has come with sacrifices.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Dr. Hirota has published 56 papers, and his work connects molecular biology with nutrition in pursuit of better health care solutions and longer healthy life expectancy.
From Science Daily • May 27, 2026
"BP is building a track record of strong underlying operational performance and a tight focus on financial discipline -- all in the pursuit of growing shareholder value and returns," he said.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Like code breaking, it was a pursuit that required patience, precision, and attention to detail, and she was good at it.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
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.
