What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
questing
Example
The knight went on a quest to find the Holy Grail. [questing: verb]
Example
She was on a quest to discover the truth about her family history. [questing: gerund or present participle]
pursuit
Example
Reading is one of my favorite pursuits. [pursuit: noun]
Example
He was in hot pursuit of the thief. [pursuit: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pursuit is more commonly used than questing in everyday language. Pursuit is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while questing is less common and often used in more specific or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between questing and pursuit?
Both questing and pursuit can be used in formal and informal contexts, but questing may be more associated with literary or poetic language, while pursuit is more commonly used in everyday speech and writing.