Pursue Meaning: Definition, Usage, and Examples

Pursue means to chase, follow, or keep working toward something. The “something” can be a person, a goal, a dream, a career, or a legal claim. In daily English, it most often means going after a goal with effort and time.

The word works in two ways. It can be physical, as in a police officer pursuing a suspect. It can also be figurative, as in pursuing a degree or pursuing happiness. This guide covers both senses, with grammar, pronunciation, origin, and common mistakes.

What Does Pursue Mean?

Pursue is a verb. Most dictionaries give these core meanings.

Meaning 1: To chase or follow someone or something.
The police pursued the car for two miles.

Meaning 2: To work toward a goal or aim.
She wants to pursue a career in medicine.

Meaning 3: To continue with an activity, interest, or course of action.
He decided to pursue his interest in painting.

Meaning 4: To try to win the attention or affection of someone.
He pursued her for months before she agreed to a date.

Meaning 5: To take legal or formal action.
The company will pursue the claim in court.

All five meanings share one idea: following something with effort and purpose.

Pursue Grammar: Part of Speech and Word Forms

Pursue is a transitive verb, which means it takes an object. You pursue something. You cannot just “pursue” on its own.

Form	Word	Example
Base form	pursue	I want to pursue a new hobby.
Third person singular	pursues	She pursues her goals daily.
Past tense	pursued	They pursued the lead for weeks.
Past participle	pursued	The goal was pursued with great effort.
Present participle	pursuing	He is pursuing a master’s degree.
Noun (person)	pursuer	The pursuer was close behind.
Noun (activity)	pursuit	The pursuit of knowledge never ends.

💡 Tip: “Pursue” is the verb and “pursuit” is the noun. Do not mix them up.

See More: Modeling Meaning

How to Pronounce Pursue

• Simple pronunciation: per-SOO
• IPA (American): /pərˈsuː/
• IPA (British): /pəˈsjuː/
• Stress: The stress falls on the second syllable.

Americans usually say “per-SOO.” Many British speakers add a small “y” sound, so it sounds like “per-SYOO.” Both are correct.

Pursue vs. Persue: Which Spelling Is Correct?

Pursue is correct. “Persue” is a misspelling. People often write “persue” because the first syllable sounds like “per.” The correct spelling begins with “pur.”

❌ Incorrect: She wants to persue a career in law.
✅ Correct: She wants to pursue a career in law.

A simple memory trick: pursue and purpose both begin with “pur.” You pursue a purpose.

Pursue Meaning in Different Contexts

Pursue Meaning in Love and Relationships

In relationships, to pursue someone means to actively try to win their interest or affection. It can include asking someone out, staying in touch, or showing consistent effort.

Pursuit can be healthy or unhealthy. Respectful pursuit means you accept the other person’s answer. If someone says no and the effort continues, it may become harassment.

• Healthy: “He pursued her politely and respected her decision.”
• Unhealthy: “He kept pursuing her after she said no.”

The phrase “pursue someone” can also appear in a more neutral sense, such as pursuing a job candidate or a business partner.

Pursue Meaning in Life and Career

This is the most common modern use. To pursue a dream or a career means to work steadily toward it.

• She chose to pursue a career in teaching.
• Many people pursue further education later in life.
• You can pursue more than one interest at a time.

“I want to pursue” is a common way to state a goal. For example: “I want to pursue a degree in design.”

“How to pursue meaning in life” usually points to a different idea. It asks how to find purpose. Here, “pursue” means to actively look for and work toward something that feels meaningful. People often do this through relationships, work, learning, service, or personal values.

Pursue Meaning in the Bible

Pursue appears in many English Bible translations, often in verses about peace, love, and righteousness. In this setting, it means to actively seek something good and keep going after it, not just wish for it.

Examples of themes include:

• Pursuing peace, found in Psalm 34 and Hebrews 12.
• Pursuing righteousness, found in 1 Timothy 6.
• Pursuing love, found in 1 Corinthians 14.

Exact wording changes between translations, such as the King James Version, NIV, and ESV. If you need a specific verse, check your preferred translation.

Pursue Meaning in Law

In legal writing, to pursue means to take formal steps to carry out a claim, case, or remedy.

• “The plaintiff chose to pursue the case.”
• “The company may pursue legal action.”

“Vigorously pursue” is a common legal phrase. It means to pursue a matter with energy and determination, and without giving up easily. You often see it in court documents, such as “the defendant will vigorously pursue its defenses.” It signals serious intent, not a specific legal rule.

Pay and Pursue in Insurance

“Pay and pursue” is an insurance term. It describes a situation where an insurer pays a claim first, then pursues recovery from the party that may be responsible. This is related to a process called subrogation. It is a business practice, not a general English phrase.

Pursue Synonyms and Related Words

Word	Meaning	How It Differs
Chase	Run after quickly	More physical and urgent
Follow	Go behind or after	Less intense, no goal required
Seek	Try to find or get	Focuses on searching
Strive	Try very hard	Focuses on effort
Go after	Try to get something	More casual and spoken
Hunt	Search for or chase	Suggests a target
Prosecute	Carry out legal action	Formal and legal
Practice	Do regularly	Used for skills or professions

See More: Impeccable Meaning

Antonyms: abandon, give up, avoid, quit, flee, ignore.

Pursuer means a person who pursues. Pursuit is the act of pursuing. You will also see “in pursuit of,” as in “in pursuit of happiness.”

Pursue Meaning in Other Languages

Many readers look up this word in their own language. These are common equivalents, but the best choice depends on context.

Language	Common Equivalent	Notes
Hindi	पीछा करना (peecha karna)	Chase or follow. For goals, लक्ष्य का पीछा करना or प्रयास करना is also used
Urdu	پیچھا کرنا (peecha karna)	Chase. For goals, تعاقب کرنا is also used
Punjabi	ਪਿੱਛਾ ਕਰਨਾ (picha karna)	Chase or follow
Chinese	追求 (zhuīqiú)	Pursue a goal or dream. 追赶 (zhuīgǎn) means to chase

Bilingual dictionaries may list other options, so a native speaker or a trusted dictionary is the best check for a specific sentence.

Example Sentences With Pursue

A few strong examples show how the word works.

• The officer pursued the suspect on foot.
• She plans to pursue a degree in engineering.
• “I will pursue this goal until it is done.”
• You can pursue your passion without quitting your job.
• Many writers pursue publication for years.

The phrase “I will pursue” is a promise or commitment. It means you intend to follow through on something.

Common Mistakes With Pursue

Mistake 1: Misspelling the word.
❌ He will persue his dream.
✅ He will pursue his dream.

Mistake 2: Using “pursuit” as a verb.
❌ She will pursuit a career in art.
✅ She will pursue a career in art.

Mistake 3: Leaving out the object.
❌ I want to pursue.
✅ I want to pursue a new career.

Mistake 4: Confusing pursue with “peruse.”
Peruse means to read or examine something. It does not mean to chase.
❌ He perused his goals for years.
✅ He pursued his goals for years.

⚠️ Note: “Pursue” and “peruse” sound a little alike but are unrelated.

Origin of the Word Pursue

Pursue entered English in the Middle Ages through Anglo-Norman and Old French. It traces back to the Latin word prosequi, which combines pro (forward) and sequi (to follow). So the original sense was “to follow forward.” That idea still sits behind modern uses, from chasing a suspect to chasing a goal.

See More: Illustration Meaning

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pursue mean in simple words?

It means to chase or work toward something. The target can be a person, a goal, or a dream.

Is pursue a noun or a verb?

Pursue is a verb. The related noun is pursuit.

How do you pronounce pursue?

In American English, it sounds like “per-SOO.” In British English, it is often “per-SYOO.”

What is the difference between pursue and persue?

Pursue is the correct spelling. Persue is a common misspelling.

What does “I want to pursue” mean?

It means you want to follow a goal, career, or interest. A real object should follow it, such as “I want to pursue music.”

What does pursue mean in love?

It means actively trying to win someone’s affection. It should be respectful and welcome.

What does “vigorously pursue” mean in court?

It means to follow a claim or defense with strong effort. It describes intent, not a special legal procedure.

What is the past tense of pursue?

The past tense is pursued. The past participle is also pursued.

What does “in pursuit of” mean?

It means in the act of chasing or seeking something, such as “in pursuit of a better life.”

Conclusion

To pursue means to chase, follow, or work toward something with effort. It can describe a physical chase, a personal goal, a career path, a relationship, or a legal claim. The spelling is always pursue, never persue, and it works as a transitive verb that needs an object.

When you use the word, think of direction and effort. If you are going after something on purpose, pursue is likely the right word. Pair it with a clear object, such as “pursue a goal” or “pursue a degree,” and your meaning will always be clear.