pursue
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (4)pursues, pursued, pursuing
- carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in“She pursued many activities”“They engaged in a discussion”Synonyms: prosecuteengageMore general act, moveMore specific politick, close, commit
- 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”Synonyms: followMore general travel, goMore specific chase, haunt, stalkSimilar surveil, follow
- go in search of or hunt for“pursue a hobby”Synonyms: quest forgo afterquest afterMore general search, seek
- carry further or advance“Can you act on this matter soon?”Synonyms: follow up onact onMore general react, opposeMore specific run down, check out
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Verb to follow urgently
- Spanish
- perseguir
- French
- poursuivre
- German
- verfolgen
- Italian
- inseguire
- Portuguese
- perseguir
- Russian
- пресле́довать preslédovatʹ
- Arabic
- لَاحَقَ lāḥaqa
- Chinese
- 追赶 zhuīgǎn
- Dutch
- achtervolgen
- Polish
- ścigać
17 more languages
Verb to aim for
- Spanish
- perseguir
- German
- anstreben
- Italian
- perseguire
- Portuguese
- perseguir
- Turkish
- hedeflemek
- Chinese
- 追求 zhuīqiú
- Dutch
- najagen
- Greek
- επιδιώκω epidióko
- Indonesian
- mengejar
- Vietnamese
- theo đuổi
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.
1. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare.
We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.— Matthew Prior
The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing.— Henry W. Longfellow
2. To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.
The fame of ancient matrons you pursue.— John Dryden
3. 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. To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue. “ Insatiate to pursue vain war.” John Milton
5. To follow as an example; to imitate.
6. To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.
The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.— Wyclif (John xv. 20).
Synonyms: To follow; chase; seek; persist. See Follow.
1. To go in pursuit; to follow.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth.— Prov. xxviii. 1.
Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition.— Earle, John
2. To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.
[A Gallicism]
I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider.— Robert Boyle
3. Law To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor. Alexander Mansfield. Burrill
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54