pursuit

American  

[per-soot] / pərˈsut /

noun

1. the act of pursuing.

   in pursuit of the fox.

   Synonyms:

   hunt , chase

2. an effort to secure or attain; quest.

   the pursuit of happiness.

   Synonyms:

   search

3. any occupation, pastime, or the like, in which a person is engaged regularly or customarily.

   literary pursuits.

   Synonyms:

   inclination , preoccupation , activity

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pursuit British  

/ pəˈsjuːt /

noun

1. 1. the act of pursuing, chasing, or striving after

   2. ( as modifier )

      a pursuit plane

2. an occupation, hobby, or pastime

3. (in cycling) a race in which the riders set off at intervals along the track and attempt to overtake each other

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Etymology

Origin of pursuit

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French purseute, from Vulgar Latin prōsequita (unrecorded), from Latin prōsecūta, feminine of prōsecūtus “followed,” past participle of prōsequī “to follow, continue”; pursue

Example Sentences

Gaffigan is serious enough about his pursuit to say “my whiskey journey” several times in conversation with a straight face and no air quotes.

From The Wall Street Journal

College courses must actively cultivate the virtues of curiosity, open-mindedness, intellectual humility, analytical rigor and, above all, dedication to the pursuit of truth.

From The Wall Street Journal

The movement exploded in 1828 as workers resisted longer workdays, invoking the Declaration’s “pursuit of happiness.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In my pursuit of the perfect photo, I tested them all and found that there’s a fine line between enhancing and going overboard.

From The Wall Street Journal

Liverpool remain keen to revive their pursuit, though there are no guarantees the move will materialise.

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplishment
• activity
• career
• occupation
• undertaking