pursuit

[per-soot]

noun

1. the act of pursuing.

   in pursuit of the fox.

   Synonyms: hunt, chase

2. an effort to secure or attain; quest.

   the pursuit of happiness.

   Synonyms: search

3. any occupation, pastime, or the like, in which a person is engaged regularly or customarily.

   literary pursuits.

   Synonyms: inclination, preoccupation, activity

pursuit

/ pəˈsjuːt /

noun

1. 1. the act of pursuing, chasing, or striving after

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pursuit plane

2. an occupation, hobby, or pastime

3. (in cycling) a race in which the riders set off at intervals along the track and attempt to overtake each other

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursuit¹

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”; pursue

Word History and Origins

Origin of pursuit¹

C14: from Old French poursieute, from poursivre to prosecute, _pursue

Example Sentences

Think of it this way: What other pursuit in life is there where you can beat the best and the brightest by investing in index funds and doing nothing else for 20 years?

Read more on MarketWatch

If Paramount succeeds in its pursuit of Warner, it would create a huge conglomerate housing two iconic studios.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Last week at Bloomberg’s Screentime media conference, Ellison declined to comment on Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. or even whether his company had already made a bid.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I was pretty much in pursuit,” he says, chasing after the Halloween display that had blown from a residence and rolled through the neighborhood.

Read more on Salon

Or do we stick to the principles of the American founding—freedom, merit, the rule of law, the pursuit of excellence?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accomplishment 
• activity 
• career 
• occupation 
• undertaking