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pursue definition

pur·sue (pər so̵̅o̅′, -syo̵̅o̅′)

transitive verb pursued -·sued′, pursuing -·su′·ing

  1. to follow in order to overtake, capture, or kill; chase
  2. to proceed along, follow, or continue with (a specified course, action, plan, etc.)
  3. to try to find, get, win, etc.; strive for; seek after to pursue success
  4. to have as one's occupation, profession, or study; devote oneself to
  5. to continue to annoy or distress; hound pursued by bad luck

Etymology: ME pursuen < OFr poursuir < VL prosequere, for L prosequi < pro-, forth + sequi, to follow: see sequent

intransitive verb

  1. to chase
  2. to go on; continue

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pursue Synonyms

pursue

v.

  1. To chase

    seek, hound, track, track down, dog, shadow, search for, search out, give chase, stalk, run after, search after, get after, go after, send after, prowl after, gun down, hunt down, trail, tag with, direct one's steps, camp on the trail of, follow close upon, move behind, hunt out, fish out, scout out, nose around, poke around, fasten oneself upon, keep on foot, follow up, attach oneself to, ask for, dig for, go running for, gun for, delve for, look about for.

  2. To seek

    strive for, try for, aspire to, attempt; see try 1.

  3. To continue

    persevere, proceed, follow up, carry on; see continue 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

pursue Usage Examples

Object

  • career: Our trainees, mostly from school, have gone on to pursue careers in the trades at the local building college.

Modifying Another Word

  • energetically: Most importantly, like most people with AD(H)D he would pursue energetically and conscientiously matters in which he had great interest.

Used with why or when

  • what: Always pursue what is good, noble, beautiful.

Modifying Another Word

  • vigorously: Councilor Hussey urged that this be pursued vigorously in view of the benefits of the linkage between Sioux Falls, Strabane and mainland Europe.

Preposition: in

  • isolation: Understanding the Korean people cannot be pursued in isolation from the reality of their interaction with these four cultural universes.

Preposition: by

  • demon: She is a woman pursued by demons, fuelled by the loss of her mother and her own baby.
pursue usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

pursue quotes

And as for you, archers, soldiers, gentlemen, and all otherswhoare besieging Orleans,depart in God'sname to your own country† I assure you that wherever I find your people in France I shall fight them, and pursue them, and expel them from here, whether they will or not.

-StJoan of Arc

pursue quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"pursue." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/pursue>

APA Style

pursue. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/pursue

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