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

Examples 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 In his relentless pursuit to strip the proud Black boy of his confident sense of freedom in his Black identity, the white man never even had to touch Kunta Kinte. Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025 Brazilian courts acted quickly and aggressively The court ruling that deemed Mr. Bolsonaro ineligible is an illustration of another divergence in the approaches: The Brazilian judiciary has been faster and far more aggressive in its pursuit of Mr. Bolsonaro. Jack Nicas, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 The first part of the novel is taken up by her pursuit of Marlowe’s attention, which persists despite his initial indifference to her. Laila Lalami, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025 McDaniels was trailing around the screens in pursuit. Hunter Patterson, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for pursuit 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pursuit
Noun
  • The app is free to use across devices, with unlimited time tracking.
    David Nield, WIRED, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Harvest Harvest’s main features include invoicing and payments, reporting and time tracking.
    Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Additionally, in the context of their personal lives, those prone to toxic productivity frequently experience interpersonal conflicts, as their partners, hobbies, and social connections are often neglected.
    Desireé Oostland, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Engage in Creative Hobbies Creative hobbies like crafting, drawing, knitting, writing, or playing an instrument can keep your brain engaged and foster problem-solving skills.39 These hands-on activities provide a healthy alternative to passive digital content consumption.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Decentralized solutions would complement generative AI by providing immutable audit trails into data transactions, thereby enabling easier leak tracing and accountability enforcement.
    Vishwanadham Mandala, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Countries that had swiftly applied physical-distancing measures and scaled up widespread testing and contact tracing had mostly fended off the worst of the disease.
    Jeremy Konyndyk, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2020
Noun
  • Acer Nitro Blaze 8 and 11: specs and price The Acer Nitro Blaze 8 sports a 144Hz 8.8-inch WQXGA display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The five stars battling for the coveted Entertainer of the Year award are actors Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer and Kevin Hart along with rapper Kendrick Lamar and sports talk host Shannon Sharpe.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Gilbert, a fast-growing town in Maricopa County, recently voted to raise taxes for various needs that have arisen with its expansion, including parks and recreation money that would fund pickleball courts.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Residents can sign up for alerts through the company. Southlake Library & Nature Center The library, nature center and all recreation centers and programs are closed Jan. 9 due to inclement weather.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 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
  • Alex Ovechkin, Washington Even missing 16 games with a broken leg hasn’t really slowed Ovechkin’s chase of the NHL’s all-time goals record.
    James Mirtle, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
  • An intense chase ensues from the Rambouillet Forest through Versailles to Paris, where Franck takes Léo to the hospital to get treated and give birth.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • And to Cumming’s amusement, the cast seems genuinely scared of him at times, treating him as an almost omniscient voice of God on the show.
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Internet viewers were quick to share their amusement and admiration for Milo's antics.
    Lydia Patrick, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near pursuit

Cite this Entry

“Pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pursuit. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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