pursuit

noun

pər-ˈsüt How to pronounce pursuit (audio)
Definition of pursuitnext
1
as in tracking
the act of going after or in the tracks of another the cat ran down the street with a pair of dogs in pursuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in hobby
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure a workaholic with few pursuits outside of the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pursuit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pursuit are business, calling, employment, métier, occupation, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When is business a more appropriate choice than pursuit?

While in some cases nearly identical to pursuit, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

When might calling be a better fit than pursuit?

The meanings of calling and pursuit largely overlap; however, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When is it sensible to use employment instead of pursuit?

The words employment and pursuit can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When would métier be a good substitute for pursuit?

The synonyms métier and pursuit are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

In what contexts can occupation take the place of pursuit?

While the synonyms occupation and pursuit are close in meaning, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When can work be used instead of pursuit?

Although the words work and pursuit have much in common, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

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 pursuit Like the pursuit in Miller’s death, most chases began east of Troost Avenue. —Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025 The designer’s philanthropic pursuits included Foundation 59, an organization that supports disadvantaged young people, and a women’s fundraising group for the National Gallery of Victoria. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025 Gretzky, 64 years old and red-faced, was there to witness the occasion, the way Gordie Howe had encouraged Gretzky’s pursuit of his career-goals record. —Chris Jones, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025 The pursuit of this service was admittedly inspired by The White Lotus on HBO. —Kayla Blanton, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pursuit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pursuit
  1. tracking
  2. hobby
  3. tracing
  4. sport
  5. recreation
  6. avocation
  7. chase
  8. amusement
Noun
  • To help with the tracking, consider using a spreadsheet or a budgeting app.
    — Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In 2015, participating zoos began releasing the snails back into the forests of French Polynesia, marked with an animal-safe UV paint for tracking purposes, according to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
    — Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of tracking
Noun
  • The races are a place where George can relax and just be a guy with a hobby — not even the wealthiest guy in the room — and make friends with drivers, who are the real celebrities.
    — Kaleb Horton, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Replace high-intensity relationships with lower-intensity but deeply fulfilling social interactions — such as group hobbies, volunteering or philosophical discussions — to satisfy emotional needs more healthily.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of hobby
Noun
  • This typically includes: Electrocardiogram (ECG): an electrical tracing of the heart which may show dangerous heart rhythms or inherited electrical conditions like Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
  • In this two-dimensional tracing of the data [above], the surface of the ice and shape of the bedrock are clearly visible.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Aug. 2023
Definition of tracing
Noun
  • From the October 2011 issue: The scandal of NCAA college sports Wade arrived with a small entourage (the Chick-fil-A was for them), and the room buzzed.
    — D. Watkins, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In other cases, surgeons may allow patients to resume light cardio at six weeks and everything else–weight training, yoga, sports—at three months.
    — Jolene Edgar, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of sport
Noun
  • The move came partly in response to pressure from recreation groups that had been shut out of plans to redevelop Fiesta Island, finalized in 2021, as well as plans to revamp the bay’s northeast corner near De Anza Cove, approved a year ago.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Maloney, 66, is the former president of Pipefitters Local 597 and was named by the Tinley Park-Park District last year to oversee remediation of the 280-acre former Tinley Park Mental Health Center, which the Park District plans to redevelop for recreation uses.
    — Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of recreation
Noun
  • These avocations can take many shapes—traveling, golf, time with family, snowboarding, knitting, hunting, gardening, fishing, church choir, college football, crossword puzzles, theater, cycling, and walking.
    — Wes Moss, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • What began as an avocation turned into a serious occupation, as Fox Solomon turned to documenting the remnants of segregation visible in Chattanooga and across the South.
    — Christina Cacouris, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024
Definition of avocation
Noun
  • Major League Baseball is officially back in action with Opening Day 2025 kicking off another exciting chase for the World Series trophy.
    — Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Several weeks after the police chase, law enforcement pulled over a vehicle Aheran was riding in and found him with a bag containing a gun, other people’s mail, debit and credit cards in other people’s names, over $1,000 in cash and other contraband, investigators said.
    — Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of chase
Noun
  • The bulk of Everybody’s Live is clearly designed for the comedian’s amusement.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Joan's immediate reaction was one of understandable amusement.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of amusement

Browse Nearby Words

pursuing
pursuit
pursuits
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pursuit. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on pursuit

Nglish: Translation of pursuit for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All