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Definition of pursue verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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/
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  1. 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.
    Topics Successb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • further
    • still
    • actively
    verb + pursue
    • decide to
    • intend to
    • want to
    phrases
    • the ability to pursue something
    • the freedom to pursue something
    • the opportunity to pursue something
    See full entry
  2. 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.’
    Topics Law and justiceb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • further
    • still
    • actively
    verb + pursue
    • decide to
    • intend to
    • want to
    phrases
    • the ability to pursue something
    • the freedom to pursue something
    • the opportunity to pursue something
    See full entry
  3. 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.
    Topics Law and justiceb2, Crime and punishmentb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • relentlessly
    phrases
    • closely pursued by somebody
    • hotly pursued by somebody
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘follow with hatred’): from Anglo-Norman French pursuer, from an alteration of Latin prosequi ‘prosecute’.
See pursue in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee pursue in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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adjective
 
 
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