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

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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 But the home streak now takes a back seat to NSU’s pursuit of what would be its second national championship in three years. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025 For such people, the unabashed pursuit of wealth and the conspicuous consumption associated with wealth are treated as virtues in themselves. Jeffery Vacante, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025 Eventually, their lives are consumed by the pursuit of knowledge, and the wish to push the envelope on the theory just a bit further. Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025 Understanding slope angle, terrain traps (areas where an avalanche will have exacerbated consequences such as over a cliff or into a drainage), and snow science will only benefit you in all your snowy pursuits: snowshoeing, hunting, and even fishing. Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pursuit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pursuit
Noun
  • 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
  • To help with the tracking, consider using a spreadsheet or a budgeting app.
    Gabriel Rodríguez, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Golf wasn’t just a hobby for Richard Berle growing up.
    Michael LoRé, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Every Glimpse Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Have Shared Into Life with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet The fruit-picking photo may hint that Meghan's children are helping her with her hobby of jam-making.
    Meredith Kile, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
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
Noun
  • Even media companies not known for their sports offerings are trying to get on the field.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Beyond these accolades, her journey from a competitive swimmer to a respected sports administrator and minister highlights her lifelong commitment to using sports as a means of empowerment and societal progress.
    Sindiswa Mabunda, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99.
    Space.com Staff, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Visitation, recreation and education are not allowed at the mega-prison, says Bukele, who has shared numerous other videos of how roughly prisoners are treated.
    Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
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
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Her attorneys said the first responders had no legitimate business reason for doing so and instead were violating her privacy rights by using the photos as souvenirs or objects of amusement.
    James Powel, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Lochlan obliged and gave Saxon a peck, before leaning back in and grabbing his brother's neck for a full makeout, much to Chloe and Chelsea’s amusement.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pursuit. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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