pursue
verb /pəˈsjuː/
/pərˈsuː/
(formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they pursue | /pəˈsjuː/ /pərˈsuː/ |
| he / she / it pursues | /pəˈsjuːz/ /pərˈsuːz/ |
| past simple pursued | /pəˈsjuːd/ /pərˈsuːd/ |
| past participle pursued | /pəˈsjuːd/ /pərˈsuːd/ |
| -ing form pursuing | /pəˈsjuːɪŋ/ /pərˈsuːɪŋ/ |
- pursue something to do something or try to achieve something over a period of time
- to pursue a goal
- to pursue an aim/objective
- How can we most effectively pursue these aims?
- We intend to pursue this policy with determination.
- She wishes to pursue a medical career.
- I was determined to pursue my dream of becoming an actor.
- Many communities are aggressively pursuing plans to preserve open spaces.
- I wasn't sure I wanted to pursue dance as a career.
- He continues to pursue a soft policy on crime.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- further
- still
- actively
- …
- decide to
- intend to
- want to
- …
- the ability to pursue something
- the freedom to pursue something
- the opportunity to pursue something
- …
- to continue to discuss, find out about or be involved in something
- pursue something to pursue an agenda/a strategy/a claim
- to pursue legal action
- The Crown Prosecution Service is unwilling to pursue the case.
- We have decided not to pursue the matter.
- She wanted the freedom to pursue her own interests.
- He was still pursuing his studies.
- Other companies are pursuing the same course.
- The government has actively pursued a campaign against the militants.
- pursue + speech ‘But’, he pursued, ‘you still haven't answered the question.’
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- further
- still
- actively
- …
- decide to
- intend to
- want to
- …
- the ability to pursue something
- the freedom to pursue something
- the opportunity to pursue something
- …
- pursue somebody/something to follow or go after somebody/something, especially in order to catch them
- She left the theatre, hotly pursued by the press.
- Police pursued the car at high speed.
- Jake has been pursuing her (= trying to have a relationship with her) for months.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- relentlessly
- closely pursued by somebody
- hotly pursued by somebody
Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘follow with hatred’): from Anglo-Norman French pursuer, from an alteration of Latin prosequi ‘prosecute’.