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pursuing

pursuing

3.2
Following someone to try to catch them
  • adjective
  • /pərˈsuːɪŋ/
translation icon : persiguiendo
  • The detective was pursuing the suspect through the crowded streets.

Examples

  • And so on some level, pursuing pleasure is a mistake.

  • I only really was pursuing that type of relationship.

  • And I think that story is that we're constantly pursuing things to make us happy.

  • That's a life lived pursuing success in a competitive field.

  • I think that's so common for people pursuing creative paths and any sort.

  • It was always about pursuing it in a thoughtful kind of way.

  • Aren't you being a naive idealist pursuing such unrealistic goals?

  • She was pursuing her dreams of becoming a professional dancer.

  • They spent the afternoon pursuing their interest in marine biology.

Synonyms

to follow
vspursuing
1.0

To move behind someone or go along the same path

is specifically about moving behind to catch, overtake, or accompany rather than general movement
to track
vspursuing
2.3

To follow where a person or thing goes

is focused on moving behind with the aim to catch, overtake, or join
to pursue
vspursuing
3.5

To try to get something you want, like a job or a goal

is about moving behind another to catch, overtake, or accompany them
to go after
vspursuing
839 2.1

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

is about moving behind another to catch, overtake, or accompany them
to hunt
vspursuing
322 1.0

To chase someone or something without stopping to catch them

is neutral about intensity, covering gentle or intense following alike
to tail
vspursuing
52 5.9

To follow someone closely and secretly to watch them

is about following openly or for many reasons including catching or accompanying
to trail
vspursuing
50 2.5

Follow someone closely to try to catch them

is general about moving behind, not always with capture as goal
on my tail
vspursuing
17 7.9

To follow someone closely and keep bothering them

can describe following at any distance for catching, overtaking, or company
to run down
vspursuing
13 4.1

To follow and catch a person, animal or vehicle

focuses on the general act of moving behind rather than the end result
to give chase
vspursuing
11 4.1

Start running after someone or something to catch them

describes the same action but not only the initial start of pursuit
to track down
vspursuing
9 4.6

To follow wild animals until you catch or kill them

applies to following people or things for catching, overtaking, or accompanying
to stalk its prey
vspursuing
6 6.6

To move quietly and carefully toward an animal to catch it by surprise

is about following more generally, not necessarily using stealth or surprise
in hot pursuit
vspursuing
5 5.3

Chasing someone quickly right after they run away

covers following more broadly, not only urgent or immediate cases
to chase after
vspursuing
4 1.9

To run after someone or something to catch them

is more general about moving behind with intent to catch or join
hot on someone's heels
vspursuing
  • Informal
6.1

Close behind someone and almost catching them

is broader, applying to any following to catch, overtake, or accompany

How Close

stalking
  • Offensive
40 6.1
tailing
12 7.1
pursuing
3.2
following
1.0

Surface Forms

pursuing positive

Morphology

pursuing = pursue (transparent) = pursue + ing

The present-participle/adjectival form is directly and productively formed from the verb 'pursue' with the suffix '-ing'.

Etymology

The word pursuing comes from an old root sequi meaning 'to follow', which you can see in familiar words like sequel and sequence. So, to be pursuing someone is to follow them closely, often to catch or overtake them.