Meanings
plural pursuits · alternative poursuit · alternative pursuite · alternative pursiut
- countableuncountableThe act of pursuing.
Unremitting pursuit of wealth doesn't bring happiness, particularly if successful.
3 more examples
Mother[…]considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom, from which every Kensingtonian held aloof, except on the conventional tip-and-run excursions in pursuit of shopping, tea and theatres.
1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLCNot only were Jupp Heynckes' team pacey in attack but they were relentless in their pursuit of the ball once they had lost it, and as the game wore on they merely increased their dominance as City wilted in the Allianz Arena.
2011 September 27, Alistair Magowan, “Bayern Munich 2-0 Man City”, in BBC SportThe erosion of trust doesn't require intent, it only requires the blind pursuit of self-interest above all else.
2023 May 8, Charles Hugh Smith, Once Trust Has Been Lost, There's No Going BackSynonyms: pursual
- countableuncountablecycle racingA discipline in track cycling where two opposing teams start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch their opponents.
- countableobsoleteuncountablelawprosecution
That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time did pertain to the spiritual court.
1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI)
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe act of pursuing.
nounA hobby or recreational activity, done regularly.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
nounan auxiliary activity
nouna diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Frenchpoursuite
- Middle Englishpursuyte
- Englishpursuit
From Middle English pursuyte, from Old French poursuite, from the verb porsuir (“to pursue”).
More words from Middle English, Old French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἐπιτήδευμα
- ἐπιτήδευμα (epitḗdeuma)hobby or recreational activity
Bulgarian преследване, гонитба
- преследване (presledvane)act of pursuing
- гонитба (gonitba)act of pursuing
- занимание (zanimanie)hobby or recreational activity
Catalan perseguiment
- perseguimentact of pursuing
Chinese Mandarin 追求
- 追求 (zhuīqiú)act of pursuing
Czech snažení, snaha
- snaženíact of pursuing
- snahaact of pursuing
- úsilíact of pursuing
- honba (za čím)act of pursuing
- zálibahobby or recreational activity
- zájmyhobby or recreational activity
Danish forfølgelse
- forfølgelseact of pursuing
Dutch achtervolging
- achtervolgingact of pursuing
Esperanto klopodo, klopodado
- klopodoact of pursuing
- klopodadoact of pursuing
French poursuite
- poursuiteact of pursuing
German Verfolgung, Streben
- Verfolgungact of pursuing
- Strebenact of pursuing
Greek επιδίωξη, καταδίωξη
- επιδίωξη (epidíoxi)hobby or recreational activity
- καταδίωξη (katadíoxi)hobby or recreational activity
- επιχείρηση (epicheírisi)hobby or recreational activity
- πουρσουίτ (poursouít)cycle racing
Hebrew מִרְדָּף, רְדִיפָה
- מִרְדָּף (mirdáf)act of pursuing
- רְדִיפָה (r'difá)act of pursuing
Hungarian törekvés, űzés
- törekvésact of pursuing
- űzésact of pursuing
- tevékenységhobby or recreational activity
- elfoglaltsághobby or recreational activity
Indonesian mengejar
- mengejaract of pursuing
Irish tóir
- tóiract of pursuing
Italian ricerca, perseguimento
- ricercaact of pursuing
- perseguimentoact of pursuing
- cacciaact of pursuing
- passatempohobby or recreational activity
Japanese 追求
- 追求 (tsuikyū)act of pursuing
Korean 추구
- 추구 (chugu)act of pursuing
Māori umanga, mahi tākaro
- umangahobby or recreational activity
- mahi tākarohobby or recreational activity
Polish pościg
- pościgact of pursuing
Portuguese perseguição
- perseguiçãoact of pursuing
Romanian vânătoare
- vânătoareact of pursuing
Russian пресле́дование, пого́ня
- пресле́дование (preslédovanije)act of pursuing
- пого́ня (pogónja)act of pursuing
- заня́тие (zanjátije)hobby or recreational activity
Spanish persecución, caza
- persecuciónact of pursuing
- cazaact of pursuing
- actividadhobby or recreational activity
- interéshobby or recreational activity
Swedish förföljande
- förföljandeact of pursuing
Turkish uğraş, meşgale
- uğraşhobby or recreational activity
- meşgalehobby or recreational activity
Ukrainian переслі́дування, здогі́н
- переслі́дування (pereslíduvannja)act of pursuing
- здогі́н (zdohín)act of pursuing
- пого́ня (pohónja)act of pursuing
- гони́тва (honýtva)act of pursuing
- заня́ття (zanjáttja)hobby or recreational activity
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with pursuit
Cite this entry
pursuit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pursuit
“pursuit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pursuit. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pursuit,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pursuit.
Source: pursuit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.