pursue
verbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//pəˈsjuː//
- United Kingdom//pəˈʃuː//
- United States//pɚˈsu//
- Australia//pəˈʃu//
To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
verb
- 1
To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
pursue one's dreams
The wicked flee when no man purſueth: but the righteous are bolde as a lyon.
He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
- 2
To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
Her rival pursued a quite different course.
- 3
To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
- 4
To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).
The Kedarites are depicted as herders of sheep and goats who pursued a seminomadic existence and lived scattered over a wide area of the desert region east of the land of Israel.
- 5
To urge (someone or something) to act in a particular way.
The mayor promised to pursue the city to be an Olympic sports venue.
- 6
To act as a legal prosecutor.
- 7
archaicTo continue; to carry on.
'Allow me, great king,' pursued the Demon, in a dry tone of voice, 'to wish you joy […]
Etymology
From Middle English pursuen, from Anglo-Norman pursure, poursuire etc., from Latin prōsequor (though influenced by persequor). Doublet of prosecute.
Forms
- past tense
- pursued
- past participle
- pursued
- present participle
- pursuing
- third person singular
- pursues
pursue · To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
pursuing · pursuitpursuit · The act of pursuing.push · To apply a force to (an object) such that it moves away from…