pursuit
gb/pɚsˈut/ us/pɚsˈut/
B1
English
~ 9600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
continued attempt to achieve something
The long effort to get or reach something you want very much.
Usage pattern:
the pursuit of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun 'pursuit' with the verb 'pursue'. Use 'pursuit of [something]' for the noun (e.g., 'the pursuit of happiness') and 'pursue [something]' for the verb (e.g., 'pursue happiness').
Synonyms
quest (Often suggests a long, sometimes difficult search, sometimes with a romantic or story-like feeling.)
Antonyms
abandonment (Describes giving up a goal or effort instead of continuing to work toward it.)
Collocations
the pursuit of happiness
|the pursuit of excellence
|the pursuit of success
|in pursuit of [a goal]
|single-minded pursuit
|relentless pursuit
Themes
goals
|work
|society
|values
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her pursuit of a medical career took more than ten years of study and training.
- The company’s pursuit of profit has sometimes conflicted with environmental concerns.
- In his relentless pursuit of excellence, he practiced the piano for hours every day.
- Many people move to big cities in pursuit of better opportunities.
- The pursuit of happiness is mentioned as a basic right in the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Learner examples
- His pursuit of money caused him a lot of stress.
- She moved abroad in pursuit of a better life.
- The pursuit of her dream to be a writer was not easy.
Noun
B1
entity
2
regular hobby or interest activity
An activity you do often, usually because you enjoy it or it is important to you.
Usage pattern:
[someone]’s [adjective] pursuit(s)
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'pursuit' here must involve a goal, but in this sense it often just means a regular activity or hobby, without any idea of chasing or trying to catch something.
Synonyms
hobby (More common in everyday speech for something done mainly for fun in free time; 'pursuit' can sound slightly more formal or serious.)
Antonyms
duty (Suggests something you must do, often not chosen for enjoyment, while a pursuit is usually chosen and often enjoyable.)
Collocations
leisure pursuits
|artistic pursuits
|intellectual pursuits
|outdoor pursuits
|creative pursuits
|academic pursuits
Themes
hobbies
|leisure
|education
|work
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Reading and painting are her main leisure pursuits.
- The school encourages students to develop artistic pursuits outside the classroom.
- His intellectual pursuits leave him little time for television.
- Outdoor pursuits like hiking and kayaking are very popular in this region.
- In retirement, he finally had time to return to his musical pursuits.
Learner examples
- Swimming is my favorite pursuit after work.
- She has many pursuits, such as cooking and dancing.
- In his free time, his main pursuit is photography.
Noun
B2
action
3
chasing someone to catch them
The act of running or driving after someone or something to catch them.
Usage pattern:
in pursuit of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the more abstract 'pursuit of happiness' sense. If someone is physically running or driving after someone to catch them, use this chasing meaning, often in phrases like 'in hot pursuit' or 'police pursuit'.
Synonyms
chase (More common and informal; directly describes running or driving after someone or something.)
Antonyms
escape (Focuses on successfully getting away from someone who is chasing you, the opposite side of a pursuit.)
Collocations
in hot pursuit
|car pursuit
|police pursuit
|high-speed pursuit
|a pursuit begins
|break off the pursuit
Themes
crime
|law
|transport
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Police were in hot pursuit of the stolen car along the highway.
- The film opens with a dramatic rooftop pursuit through the city.
- The soldiers abandoned the pursuit when they lost sight of the enemy.
- After a brief pursuit on foot, the officers caught the suspect.
- The fox easily outran the dogs in pursuit.
Learner examples
- The police are in pursuit of the robber.
- After a short pursuit, the man was caught.
- The dog was in pursuit of the cat through the garden.
Noun
technical
C1
event
4
race where one competitor chases another
In sports like cycling, a race where one person or team starts behind another and tries to catch them.
Usage pattern:
a [team/individual] pursuit
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'pursuit' in sports always means any kind of chase. In this technical sense, it is the official name of a specific race format, especially in track cycling.
Synonyms
chase race (An informal descriptive phrase that explains the idea of the event, but is not the official sport term.)
Antonyms
mass start race (A race where all competitors start together, which is the opposite format to a staggered-start pursuit race.)
Collocations
individual pursuit
|team pursuit
|track cycling pursuit
|Olympic pursuit event
|qualifying pursuit
|pursuit final
Themes
sports
|competition
Examples
- She won a silver medal in the individual pursuit at the world championships.
- The team pursuit requires perfect coordination between all four riders.
- Britain has been very successful in the cycling pursuit events at the Olympics.
Learner examples
- He watches the team pursuit on TV during the Olympics.
- She trains every day for the individual pursuit race.
- The pursuit is a popular cycling event on the track.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pursuit
IPA
GB/pɚsˈut/
US/pɚsˈut/
Syllables & stress
pur - suit (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pursuit
- Plural: pursuit, pursuits
Word family
Expressions
high-speed pursuit
1/hˈaɪ spˈid pɚsˈut/
fixed phrase
very fast vehicle chase
A chase, usually by police, where cars or other vehicles move very fast.
Examples
- Three people were injured during a high-speed pursuit on the freeway.
- The officer decided not to start a high-speed pursuit in the crowded downtown area.
in hot pursuit
1/ˈɪn hˈɑt pɚsˈut/
fixed phrase
very close, active chase
Following very closely while trying hard to catch someone or something.
Examples
- Police were in hot pursuit as the thieves sped through the city.
- The dog ran across the field in hot pursuit of the rabbit.
in pursuit
1/ˈɪn pɚsˈut/
fixed phrase
engaged in following or trying
Doing something in order to follow or get something (a person, thing, or goal).
Examples
- She traveled across Asia in pursuit of new experiences.
- The army moved north in pursuit of the retreating enemy.
in pursuit of
1/ˈɪn pɚsˈut əv/
fixed phrase
trying to get or achieve something
Trying to get, find, or achieve something, usually over some time.
Examples
- Many students move abroad in pursuit of better education and job prospects.
- The company cut costs in pursuit of higher profits.
in pursuit of excellence
1/ˈɪn pɚsˈut əv ˈɛksələns/
fixed phrase
formal
trying hard to reach high standards
Working very hard for a long time to be as good as possible at something.
Examples
- The school aims to support every student in pursuit of excellence.
- In pursuit of excellence, the team reviews every detail of its performance.
leisure pursuits
1/lˈiʒɚ pɚsˈuts/
fixed phrase
hobbies and free-time activities
Things people do in their free time for fun, such as sports, games, or arts.
Examples
- The survey asked people about their favorite leisure pursuits.
- Reading remains one of the most popular leisure pursuits around the world.
police pursuit
1/pəlˈis pɚsˈut/
fixed phrase
official chase by police
A situation where police follow a person or vehicle to catch them, usually at speed.
Examples
- The high-speed police pursuit was shown live on television.
- New rules limit when officers may begin a police pursuit in busy city areas.
the pursuit of happiness
1/ðə pɚsˈut əv hˈæpinəs/
fixed phrase
effort to achieve happiness
The effort to live a happy life, often mentioned as a basic right or life goal.
Examples
- The phrase 'the pursuit of happiness' is famous from the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
- For many people, the pursuit of happiness matters more than money.