pursue
gb/pɚsˈu/ us/pɚsˈu/
B1
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Try to achieve something
To try hard to get or do something over time.
Usage pattern:
to pursue [a goal/interest/career]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pursue' with 'persuade' due to similar spelling and pronunciation.
Synonyms
seek (More general; can imply searching without active effort over time.)
|
strive for (Emphasizes strong effort and struggle toward a goal.)
Antonyms
abandon (To give up on a goal or plan.)
|
neglect (To fail to give attention to achieving something.)
Collocations
pursue a career
|pursue a goal
|pursue an interest
|pursue an opportunity
|pursue a dream
Themes
work
|education
|personal development
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She decided to pursue a career in medicine.
- The company is pursuing new opportunities in Asia.
- He pursued his dream of becoming a writer despite many setbacks.
- Students are encouraged to pursue their academic interests.
- They are pursuing legal action against the manufacturer.
Learner examples
- I want to pursue a job in teaching.
- She will pursue her dream to travel.
- He is pursuing a course in engineering.
- We should pursue our goals even if it is hard.
Verb
B1
action
2
Chase to catch
To run or go after someone or something to catch them.
Usage pattern:
to pursue [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'try to achieve' when context is unclear.
Synonyms
chase (More common in casual speech; straightforward physical following.)
|
hunt (Often used for animals or metaphorically for people; can imply tracking.)
Antonyms
flee (To run away from someone who might pursue you.)
|
evade (To avoid being caught by someone chasing you.)
Collocations
pursue a suspect
|pursue the enemy
|pursue a fleeing vehicle
Themes
law enforcement
|sports
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The police pursued the suspect through the streets.
- The cat pursued the mouse into the garden.
- They pursued the escaping car at high speed.
- Soldiers pursued the enemy across the border.
Learner examples
- The dog pursued the ball.
- The police pursued the thief.
- She pursued her brother around the yard.
Verb
formal
B2
action
3
Continue an activity
To keep doing an activity for some time.
Usage pattern:
to pursue [an activity/course/study]
Synonyms
continue with (Neutral and common; no sense of determination necessarily.)
|
engage in (More formal; emphasizes participation.)
Antonyms
quit (To stop doing an activity before finishing it.)
|
discontinue (Formal; to end an activity or service.)
Collocations
pursue studies
|pursue research
|pursue training
Themes
work
|education
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is pursuing research into renewable energy.
- He pursued his studies despite financial difficulties.
- The team will pursue further investigations into the matter.
Learner examples
- I will pursue my studies next year.
- They pursue training every week.
- She pursues her art every day.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pursue
IPA
GB/pɚsˈu/
US/pɚsˈu/
Syllables & stress
pur - sue (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pur)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: pursue
- 3rd Person Singular: pursues
- Present Participle: pursuing
- Past: pursued
Word family
Expressions
pursue a career in [something]
1/pɚsˈu ə kɚˈɪɹ ˈɪn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Work toward a career field
To try to get a job in a certain type of work.
Examples
- He wants to pursue a career in law.
- Many students choose to pursue a career in technology.
pursue legal action
1/pɚsˈu lˈiɡəl ˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
Start legal proceedings
To officially try to make someone go to court because they did something wrong.
Examples
- The company decided to pursue legal action against the supplier.
- She is pursuing legal action for damages after the accident.