transitive verb prosecuted, prosecuting
- to follow up or pursue (something) to a conclusion: to prosecute a war with vigor
- to carry on; engage in
- to institute legal proceedings against, or conduct criminal proceedings in court against
- to try to get, enforce, etc. by legal process: to prosecute a claim
Origin:
ME prosecuten < L prosecutus, pp. of prosequi < pro-, pro- + sequi, to follow: see sequent