Showing results for "pursuing"

• present participle of pursue.

pursuing

American  

[per-soo-ing] / pərˈsu ɪŋ /

adjective

1. 

   following someone or something in order to overtake, capture, woo, etc..

   Informed via radio that the alleged crime concerned an unpaid bill, the pursuing officers took down the vehicle's license plate information and stopped the chase.

2. continuing to accompany or affect someone, as success, bad luck, or fame.

   They renewed their love, were once more torn apart by pursuing misfortune, but in the end were happily reunited.

3. following or seeming to follow someone or something with one’s eyes, voice, thoughts, etc..

   He stared fearfully at the pursuing eyes of a portrait on the wall.

4. following or coming immediately after; ensuing.

   The program focuses on core courses in the first semester, and allows students to take their electives in the pursuing two semesters.

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Other Word Forms

• unpursuing
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of pursuing

pursu(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

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Explanation

When someone is described as pursuing, they are following or chasing another person (or thing) with the intent to catch. The pursuing player in a game of "tag" is "it," or the one doing the chasing. During a traditional English fox hunt, the barking dogs are the pursing animals, and the foxes are the ones being hunted. And during a typical cops-and-robbers chase, the pursuing officers are the ones in the police car with the siren blaring, racing after the getaway car. Pursuing and its related verb pursue come from the Latin prosequi, "follow or follow after."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pursuing

That fundamental fact resulted in LIV Golf’s lawyers announcing in bankruptcy court Thursday that the upstart league is pursuing full liquidation of assets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Instead, London is pursuing a "debt reset" plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries, led by former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown and which could alter interest rates on repayments.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

“None of our partners in any of the Design District projects are pursuing Opportunity Zone benefits,” Robins said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

He said it was nice to see cast members pursuing "other adventures" too, such as Melanie Walters, who played Gwen, recently taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

There’s nothing wrong with him pursuing her like this.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

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