to pursue

Examples

• All

• Experiences in high school fed his desire to pursue a lifetime career in technology.

  Academic text (2011)

• No student should be discouraged from pursuing a college track.

  Walkout (2006)

• Then I also want to go and pursue my own new thing.

• Yes, I would pursue a great career.

  TED-Ed

• Went to Hollywood to pursue a career in music.

• The freedom to pursue whatever they desire in life.

• Stanford is our home and let us pursue our aspirations with hope.

• Bless these graduates as they pursue their dreams in unexpected ways.

  Harvard University

• There's no reason not to pursue a happier life today.

• Whether the UN bid is a success, pursuing it has already borne fruit.

  Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

F

to follow

vsto pursue

∞ 1.0

To move behind someone or go along the same path

also includes trying to obtain or catch as well as simple following

S

to seek

vsto pursue

∞ 1.0

Try to find or get something you want

adds the idea of following or catching as well as general trying

G

to go after

vsto pursue

∞ 2.1

Try to get something you want or follow someone to catch them

is the general term covering both trying and following to obtain things

G

to go for

vsto pursue

728 2.5

To try to get something you want by making an effort

is the broader action that also includes deliberate or sustained following

H

to hunt

vsto pursue

372 1.0

To chase someone or something without stopping to catch them

is broader, applying to both steady effort and less intense attempts

S

to strive

vsto pursue

192 3.7

To work very hard to reach a goal

is similar but covers both strong struggle and mild, ordinary attempts

S

to seek out

vsto pursue

191 3.0

Look for and find a person or thing, often with effort

is wider, including general attempts that do not aim to locate someone

H

to hunt down

vsto pursue

143 3.9

Search for and find someone or something after a lot of effort

can mean either searching or simply trying to achieve something

T

to try for

vsto pursue

127 3.1

Make a strong effort to get something you want

is similar but also covers casual following or less determined attempts

F

to follow up on

vsto pursue

124 3.8

Take more action to check or finish something after first contact

is wider, not limited to postcontact actions but any effort to obtain

A

to aim for

vsto pursue

112 2.8

To try to reach a goal

is broader, including both goal direction and literal following to catch

Q

to quest for

vsto pursue

67 5.4

To search for something that is hard to find

shares search sense but also covers simple attempts and physical following

S

to shoot for

vsto pursue

• Informal

41 3.9

To try to reach a big, difficult goal

is more general and includes ordinary, less ambitious aims

C

to chase

vsto pursue

• NSFW

26 4.0

To try to start a romantic relationship with someone

is more general and applies to pursuing goals beyond romantic interest

C

to chase after

vsto pursue

15 2.4

To try to reach or get something you want

covers both active physical chasing and nonphysical attempts to obtain

G

to give chase

vsto pursue

14 4.1

Start running after someone or something to catch them

is the general notion that also includes noninstantaneous or planned efforts

F

to follow out

vsto pursue

2 4.6

Continue an idea or plan until it is finished

is broader, covering initial attempts as well as carrying actions to end

Q

to quest after

vsto pursue

1 8.0

To go looking for something difficult to find or get

is broader, applying to easy and hard attempts and to following

Antonyms

G

to give up

∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

Phrasal Verbs

P

to pursue a dream

1 3.0

Work to make a dream come true

How Persistent

to hound

61 6.1

to stalk

• Offensive

250 7.4

to chase

∞ 1.0

to pursue

877 3.5

to seek

∞ 1.0

to try

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology