1
as in to chase
to go after or on the track of the policeman doggedly pursued the pickpocket through the crowded subway station

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to seek
to go in search of urged the graduates to pursue personal fulfillment instead of financial success

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word pursue distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of pursue are chase, follow, and trail. While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

When might chase be a better fit than pursue?

While in some cases nearly identical to pursue, chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

When is it sensible to use follow instead of pursue?

The synonyms follow and pursue are sometimes interchangeable, but follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

When would trail be a good substitute for pursue?

In some situations, the words trail and pursue are roughly equivalent. However, trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer
trailed a suspect across the country

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pursue Munger relentlessly pursued an understanding of how the world (especially businesses) worked. Steve Booren, The Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2025 In the late nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire, fearing decline, pursued modernizing reforms. Charlie Tyson, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025 The idea of facing that judgement can be enough to prevent people from ever seriously pursuing similar arrangements, even if the idea otherwise sounds appealing. Varuna Srinivasan, Allure, 15 Mar. 2025 Tesoro Corporation, which was later purchased by Marathon, agreed to pay $9 million to fund community benefits in District 15 in exchange for the city not pursuing litigation related to the merger of its Wilmington and Carson refineries. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pursue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pursue
Verb
  • Equally, especially after letdowns in the Champions League and the cup competitions, Díaz has more dreams to chase at Anfield, knowing that head coach Arne Slot’s promising project remains in the embryonic stages.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Chelsea were chasing the game from the 20th minute but registered just eight touches in Arsenal’s box.
    Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In February, Greenpeace International filed its own claim against Energy Transfer in a Dutch court using the European Union’s anti-SLAPP legislation, seeking to recover the damages and costs the organization has incurred as a result of the company’s lawsuits.
    Laura Paddison, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Talk with a healthcare provider about a plan to quit smoking and consider seeking guidance from a local or online support group. 12.
    Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The firm, which has raised $25 million, has developed a helmet that can read brain waves and track eye movements, part of a brain-computer interface market that could grow to $80 billion by 2035, according to Morgan Stanley.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The office also oversees a large data collection project that tracks disparities in resources, course access and discipline for students of different racial and socioeconomic groups.
    Annie Ma and Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • It’s found in the mind fog following the relief of a big win at work, the hours spent zoning out instead of caring for yourself by getting a good night’s sleep, and the failure to listen to your child tell you about their day due to an obsession with getting your inbox to zero.
    Keyaira Boone, Essence, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The tractor-trailers were partly submerged in Morey Pond on the Ashford-Union line following the collision, according to the warrant affidavit for the arrest of Desruisseaux.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • On May 30, 2023, when no one was at the church, security cameras caught an unlikely scene: Lucas, in full dark cassock, showed up in broad daylight, accompanied by a locksmith who changed the locks on the church doors and mailbox.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Chastened by the nationalistic fervor that accompanied the victory over Austria, the Diet capitulated.
    Christine Adams / Made by History, TIME, 13 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pursue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pursue. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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