pursue Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
    prosecute; engage.
    • She pursued many activities
    • They engaged in a discussion
  2. verb follow in or as if in pursuit
    follow.
    • The police car pursued the suspected attacker
    • Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
  3. verb go in search of or hunt for
    go after; quest after; quest for.
    • pursue a hobby
  4. verb carry further or advance
    act on; follow up on.
    • Can you act on this matter soon?

WordNet

Pur*sue" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. pursuen, porsuen, OF. porsivre, poursuivre, poursuir, F. poursuivre, fr. L. prosequi; pro forward + sequi to follow. See Sue, and cf. Prosecute, Pursuivant.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pursued ; present participle & verbal noun Pursuing
Definitions
  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. Prior.
    The happiness of men lies in purswing, Not in possessing. 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. 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." 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).
    Syn. -- To follow; chase; seek; persist. See Follow.
Pur*sue" intransitive verb
Definitions
  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.
  2. To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue. A Gallicism
    I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider. Boyle.
  3. (Law) To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor. Burrill.

Webster 1913