Definitions for pursue
pərˈsupur·sue

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. prosecute, engage, pursueverb

   carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

   "She pursued many activities"; "They engaged in a discussion"

2. pursue, followverb

   follow in or as if in pursuit

   "The police car pursued the suspected attacker"; "Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life"

3. quest for, go after, quest after, pursueverb

   go in search of or hunt for

   "pursue a hobby"

4. pursue, follow up on, act onverb

   carry further or advance

   "Can you act on this matter soon?"

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 2 votes

1. pursueverb

   To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.

2. pursueverb

   To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.

3. pursueverb

   To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).

   Her rival pursued a quite different course.

4. pursueverb

   To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).

5. pursueverb

   To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

6. Etymology: From pursuer, poursuire et al., porsuir, from prosequi (though influenced by persequi).

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To PURSUEverb

   Etymology: poursuivre, Fr.

   1. To chase; to follow in hostility.

   Love like a shadow flies, when substance love pursues;
   Pursuing that that flies, and flying what pursues. William Shakespeare.

   When Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, and pursued. Gen. xiv. 14.

   To thy speed add wings,
   Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue
   Thy lingering. John Milton.

   2. To prosecute; to continue.

   As righteousness tendeth to life; so he that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death. Prov. xii. 19.

   Insatiate to pursue
   Vain war with heaven. John Milton.

   I will pursue
   This ancient story, whether false or true. Dryden.

   When men pursue their thoughts of space, they stop at the confines of body, as if space were there at an end. John Locke.

   3. To imitate; to follow as an example.

   The fame of ancient matrons you pursue,
   And stand a blameless pattern to the new. Dryden.

   4. To endeavour to attain.

   Let us not then pursue
   Splendid vassalage. John Milton.

   We happiness pursue; we fly from pain;
   Yet the pursuit, and yet the flight is vain. Matthew Prior.

2. To Pursueverb

   To go on; to proceed.

   I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chymists should not consider. Boyle.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pursue

   To pursue means to actively and purposefully go after or seek something, often a goal, objective, or desired outcome. It involves engaging in actions, making efforts, and persistently driving towards the fulfillment of a particular aim or ambition. Pursuing something requires determination, focus, and a willingness to overcome obstacles or challenges in order to attain success or attain the desired result.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Pursueverb

   to follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare

2. Pursueverb

   to seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law

3. Pursueverb

   to proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course

4. Pursueverb

   to prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue

5. Pursueverb

   to follow as an example; to imitate

6. Pursueverb

   to follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account

7. Pursueverb

   to go in pursuit; to follow

8. Pursueverb

   to go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue

9. Pursueverb

   to follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pursue

   pur-sū′, v.t. to follow after in order to overtake: to follow with haste: to chase: to follow up: to be engaged in: to carry on: to seek to obtain: to seek to injure: to imitate: to continue.—v.i. to follow: to go on or continue: to act as a prosecutor at law.—n. (Spens.) pursuit.—adj. Pursū′able.—n. Pursū′ance, the act of pursuing or following out: process: consequence.—adj. Pursū′ant, done while pursuing or seeking any purpose, hence agreeable.—adv. agreeably: conformably—also Pursū′antly.—n. Pursū′er, one who pursues: (Scots law) a plaintiff. [O. Fr. porsuir (Fr. poursuivre)—L. prosequi, -secutus—pro, onwards, sequi, to follow.]

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Move

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pursue' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4672

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pursue' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4153

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pursue' in Verbs Frequency: #425

How to pronounce pursue?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say pursue in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pursue in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pursue in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of pursue in a Sentence

1. John Dryden:

   Look around the habitable world, how few Know their own good, or knowing it, pursue.

2. Mayim Bialik:

   There’s kind of two sets of opinions on if Amy were to date -- which way we should go, some people think we should go super hunky, really against type from what Sheldon is and from what we think of Amy, but part of me also feels like it's OK to keep it a little bit real in that someone like Amy probably would pursue someone — not that attractive people can't be intellectual — but pursue someone in her field, who generally speaking, might not be that concerned with appearance. Mayim Bialik added with laughs.

3. Ben Franklin:

   The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

4. Oliver Wendell Holmes:

   If I were dying, my last words would be, Have faith and pursue the unknown end.

5. Dwight D Eisenhower:

   I could have spoken from Rhode Island where I have been staying ... But I felt that, in speaking from the house of Lincoln, of Jackson, and of Wilson, my words would better convey both the sadness I feel in the action I was compelled today to make and the firmness with which I intend to pursue this course until the orders of the federal court at Little Rock can be executed without unlawful interference. (On sending troops to enforce integration in Little Rock AR High School)

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