DictionaryAI

pursuit

noun
pur-SOOT/pɜːɹˈsuːt/puh-SYOOT/pə(ɹ)ˈsjuːt/AUSpuh-SHOOT/pəˈʃʉːt/

Pluralpursuits

4 meanings of pursuit

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The act of chasing or following someone or something, especially in order to catch or reach it.

    The fox ran for cover with the hounds in close pursuit.

    Officers abandoned the pursuit when the suspect's car reached the crowded market.

    Similarchase, hunt

    Oppositeflight

    Note

    The root sense came into English as Middle English pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, the noun of porsuir, "to pursue." Its usual partner is of: the pursuit of the ball, of wealth, of self-interest. Literal chasing and striving after an aim take the same construction. The adjectives it attracts tend to measure the effort or its blindness, as in relentless, unremitting and blind pursuit.

  2. 2
    nouncountable
    A hobby or recreational activity that someone takes part in on a regular basis.

    Birdwatching is a peaceful pursuit that she enjoys every Sunday morning.

    Among his many pursuits, woodworking brought him the most satisfaction.

    Similarhobby, pastime, activity, amusement, diversion

  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A track cycling discipline in which two opposing teams begin on opposite sides of the track and each tries to catch the other.

    The two teams set off from opposite sides of the velodrome as the pursuit began.

    Germany took gold in the pursuit after overhauling the Australian quartet.

    Note

    Cycle racing turned the act of chasing into an event with rules. Because the teams start on opposite sides of the track, each one is chasing the other from the start, and catching the rival is the goal of the race. It works grammatically like other event names. Riders compete in the pursuit, and a nation takes gold in it.

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nounobsoleteuncountable
    The bringing and carrying on of legal proceedings against an accused person; prosecution.
    That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time did pertain to the spiritual court.
    1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain
    Note

    This legal sense is now out of use: the bringing of a case at law. Thomas Fuller's Church-history of Britain (1655) applies it to a pursuit for tithes, which he says belonged to the spiritual court. The preposition for names what is being claimed. In modern writing, prosecution or suit says this safely. A modern reader would take pursuit in a legal sentence to mean chasing.

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Origin

From Middle English pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, which came from the verb porsuir meaning "to pursue."