pursuit

noun

pur·​suit pər-ˈsüt 

-ˈsyüt

1

: the act of pursuing

2

: an activity that one engages in as a vocation, profession, or avocation : occupation

Synonyms

• chase
• chasing
• dogging
• following
• hounding
• pursuing
• shadowing
• tagging
• tailing
• tracing
• tracking
• trailing

Choose the Right Synonym for pursuit

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of pursuit in a Sentence

The hounds were running in the woods in pursuit of a fox.

She enjoys reading, knitting, and other quiet pursuits.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump’s pursuit of territorial expansion, seeking to annex Greenland and recover the Panama Canal, could give free rein to other expansionist powers, namely Russia and China. —Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025

Indirect talks between the U.S. and the world’s worst state-sponsor of terrorism, according to Democratic and Republican administrations, have not compelled Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. —Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025

But concern about the pursuit of activists has risen since the March 8 arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student of Palestinian descent who helped lead demonstrations against Israel’s conduct of the war. —Adam Geller, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025

The myriad fans who came to see Capitals star Alex Ovechkin and his pursuit of the NHL’s career goals record left disappointed. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pursute, from pursure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pursuit

• hot pursuit
• in close pursuit
• in full pursuit
• in hot pursuit
• in pursuit of
• pursuit plane

Rhymes for pursuit

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute

Kids Definition

pursuit

noun

pur·​suit pər-ˈsüt 

1

: the act of pursuing

2

: an activity done especially for pleasure