hot pursuit

noun

: close and avid or intense pursuit
specifically : close continuous pursuit of a fleeing suspected lawbreaker or hostile military force especially across territorial lines

Examples of hot pursuit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But whether the United States could invoke hot pursuit to chase militants into Syria is a different question altogether. Lionel Beehner, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2014 Suddenly, the teen sped up and officers began a hot pursuit onto Interstate 95 from Hallandale Beach Boulevard with lights flashing and sirens blaring. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024 After nearly seven minutes of hot pursuit, the subway crashes, the thug exits and Doyle, following on foot, corners him on the stairs. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2023 In hot pursuit, going after individuals that he’s invited into this country? Dallas News, 8 Dec. 2022 See all Example Sentences for hot pursuit 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hot pursuit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot pursuit was in 1743

Dictionary Entries Near hot pursuit

Cite this Entry

“Hot pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20pursuit. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Legal Definition

hot pursuit

noun
hot pur·​suit
: the immediate and continuous pursuit by police officers of a fleeing suspect whose possible escape justifies the failure of the officers to obtain a warrant before making an entry, search, seizure, or arrest

More from Merriam-Webster on hot pursuit

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