WordValepursue
to follow in order to catch or achieve
In more detail
1. (verb) to follow someone or something, usually to catch or stop them
2. (verb) to try hard to achieve or get something; to work toward a goal
3. (verb) to continue doing an activity or job
Examples
- 1. The police officer pursued the suspect down the street.
- 2. She is pursuing a degree in medicine.
- 3. He decided to pursue a career in music instead of law.
How to use pursue
Pursue is a fairly formal verb used to describe either literal physical following (chasing a suspect) or figurative striving toward something abstract (pursuing happiness, a degree). It emphasizes determination and continuous effort. Unlike 'chase', which is more colloquial and often implies physical speed, 'pursue' works well in professional and academic contexts and conveys purposefulness across both concrete and abstract domains.
Common phrases
- pursue a goal
- pursue a career
- pursue an interest
- in pursuit of
- pursue legal action
- pursue a policy
Synonyms
chase · follow · seek · go after · hunt
Opposites
flee · retreat · abandon
Word family
pursuit (noun) · pursuer (noun) · pursued (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 'pursue' with 'prosecute'. Prosecute means to bring legal charges against someone; pursue means to follow or seek something. Also, avoid the spelling 'persue'.
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