Word
pursuit
Phoneticspur·suit, stress on the second syllable
US/pɝˈsut/
UK/pəsˈuːt/
Definitions
01chasing or following
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of chasing someone or something, often to catch them or reach a goal.
n. the act of following or chasing someone or something in order to catch, overtake, or acquire them.
日本語:追跡※
“The police were in hot pursuit of the stolen car through the city streets.”
“The documentary explores the relentless pursuit of scientific truth, even when the evidence contradicts long-held beliefs.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'in pursuit of'.
02a hobby or activity
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an activity, such as a hobby or a job, that you spend a lot of time doing.
n. an activity, such as a hobby, interest, or profession, to which one devotes time and energy.
“Gardening is a relaxing pursuit for many people during the summer.”
“The university encourages students to engage in various intellectual and athletic pursuits outside of their formal degree requirements.”
Synonyms
03cycling race
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports Technical
n. a type of race in track cycling where two riders or teams start on opposite sides and try to catch each other.
n. a track cycling event where opponents start at different points on the track and attempt to overtake one another.
“The national team won a gold medal in the team pursuit event.”
“In the individual pursuit, the cyclist must maintain a precise pace to catch their opponent before the final lap.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “pursuit” in context.
Verb
01. abandon the pursuit
“The police were forced to abandon the pursuit when the suspect drove into a crowded pedestrian area.”
verb + noun
02. engage in a pursuit
“Many retirees choose to engage in creative pursuits like painting or gardening.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. leisure pursuit
“Outdoor activities like hiking are popular leisure pursuits in this mountainous region.”
adj + noun
04. relentless pursuit
“Her relentless pursuit of excellence eventually led her to win the Olympic gold medal.”
adj + noun
05. scholarly pursuit
“He dedicated his entire life to scholarly pursuits in the field of ancient history.”
adj + noun
Preposition
06. in pursuit of
“The company is constantly innovating in pursuit of a larger market share.”
prep + noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“Canada has been in pursuit of a deal that would have the US drop or reduce tariffs on these key sectors.” “The two relay successes took Britain's medal tally to 12 - including six golds - as the hosts remained in hot pursuit of table-topping Italy heading into the final day of competition.” Etymology
From Middle English pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, from the verb porsuir (“to pursue”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/pursuit
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0