pursue

[ per-soo ]

/ pərˈsu /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pursue ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), pur·sued, pur·su·ing.

to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, etc.; chase.

to follow close upon; go with; attend: Bad luck pursued him.

to strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish (an end, object, purpose, etc.).

to proceed in accordance with (a method, plan, etc.).

to carry on or continue (a course of action, a train of thought, an inquiry, studies, etc.).

to continue to annoy, afflict, or trouble.

to practice (an occupation, pastime, etc.).

to continue to discuss (a subject, topic, etc.).

to follow: They pursued the river to its source. I felt their eyes pursuing me.

to continue; go on with (one's course, a journey, etc.).

verb (used without object), pur·sued, pur·su·ing.

to chase after someone or something; to follow in pursuit: They spotted the suspect but decided not to pursue.

to continue.

Origin of pursue

1250–1300; Middle English pursuen < Anglo-French pursuer ≪ Latin prōsequī to pursue, follow, continue. See pro-¹, sue, prosecute

SYNONYMS FOR pursue

1 trail, hunt.

2 dog.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pursue ON THESAURUS.COM

historical usage of pursue

The current spelling of the English verb pursue dates from about 1300. It is one of several former spellings, including perseve, pursiew, pursuwe. The Middle English variants come from Anglo-French and Old French porsure, poursuire, porsivre (with many other spelling variants), ultimately from Latin prōsequi “to attend (with honors or compliments), go in pursuit of, follow with hostile intent, harry, examine or follow up (a subject or topic), continue,” which is the source of English prosecute
The many Latin meanings of prōsequi carry over into Old French and Middle English, and by the end of the Middle English period, the word pursue already had all of its current meanings. On the other hand, the word prosecute originally meant “to follow up, pursue, continue,” but shortly afterward, in the early 16th century, it took on its primary current meaning “to institute legal proceedings.”

OTHER WORDS FROM pursue

pur·su·a·ble, adjective out·pur·sue, verb (used with object), out·pur·sued, out·pur·su·ing. re·pur·sue, verb (used with object), re·pur·sued, re·pur·su·ing. un·pur·su·a·ble, adjective

un·pur·sued, adjective un·pur·su·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pursue

peruse pursue

Words nearby pursue

purser, purslane, purslane family, pursuance, pursuant, pursue, pursuer, pursuit, pursuit plane, pursuivant, pursy

Example sentences from the Web for pursued

But instead he pursued a life of science, sailing all over the world to study animal species and their environments.

‘Gods of Suburbia’: Dina Goldstein’s Arresting Photo Series on Religion vs. Consumerism |Dina Goldstein |November 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If confidence and strength were instilled in her at a young age, glamour was something she pursued.

Diane von Furstenberg: How I Learned to Love My Wrap Dress |Lizzie Crocker |October 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
To believe the British press, it sounds like you were pursued pretty aggressively by writer-director Hugo Blick for this role.

‘The Honorable Woman’ Is Maggie Gyllenhaal's Best Performance Yet |Kevin Fallon |July 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“I pursued a career in national security with the motivation of improving the national security policy of my country,” he said.

Fired From Los Alamos for Pushing Obama's Nuclear Agenda |Center for Public Integrity |July 31, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Even the most basic research, which may have no immediate application, is pursued to increase our knowledge.

Girls Love Science. We Tell Them Not To. |Tauriq Moosa |July 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When the danger was passed by Anastasius pursued fresh intrigues.

The Formation of Christendom, Volume VI |Thomas W. (Thomas William) Allies
After that it was impossible to tell which was pursuer and which was pursued.

The Black Phantom |Leo Edward Miller
In the course to be pursued these objects should be constantly held in view and have their due weight.

A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents |James D. Richardson
For three generations now our family have pursued a constructive policy.

Sonnie-Boy's People |James B. Connolly
I went out hunting again, and pursued a big he-bear all day, but didn't kill him.

A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee. |Davy Crockett

British Dictionary definitions for pursued

pursue

/ (pəˈsjuː) /

verb -sues, -suing or -sued (mainly tr)

(also intr) to follow (a fugitive, etc) in order to capture or overtake

(esp of something bad or unlucky) to follow closely or accompany ill health pursued her

to seek or strive to attain (some object, desire, etc)

to follow the precepts of (a plan, policy, etc)

to apply oneself to (one's studies, hobbies, etc)

to follow persistently or seek to become acquainted with

to continue to discuss or argue (a point, subject, etc)

Derived forms of pursue

pursuer, noun

Word Origin for pursue

C13: from Anglo-Norman pursiwer, from Old French poursivre, from Latin prōsequī to follow after

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pursue

verb (used with object), pur·sued, pur·su·ing.

verb (used without object), pur·sued, pur·su·ing.

Origin of pursue

SYNONYMS FOR pursue

historical usage of pursue

OTHER WORDS FROM pursue

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pursue

Words nearby pursue

Example sentences from the Web for pursued

British Dictionary definitions for pursued

verb -sues, -suing or -sued (mainly tr)

Derived forms of pursue

Word Origin for pursue

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pursue

verb (used with object), pur·sued, pur·su·ing.

verb (used without object), pur·sued, pur·su·ing.

Origin of pursue

SYNONYMS FOR pursue

historical usage of pursue

OTHER WORDS FROM pursue

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pursue

Words nearby pursue

Words related to pursued

Example sentences from the Web for pursued

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for pursued

verb -sues, -suing or -sued (mainly tr)

Derived forms of pursue

Word Origin for pursue

British Dictionary definitions for pursued