the act of following or chasing someone or something, an activity that you spend time doing, usually when you are not working

in pursuit of, a wild-goose chase, a lost cause

in hot pursuit, pursuit of happiness, pursuit of excellence

Formal and Informal Expressions of pursuit

In different contexts, you can replace 'pursuit' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'endeavor, activity' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'hobby, pastime' is a commonplace synonym.

pursuit: Explore its Definition & Usage

pursuit Definition

1the act of following or chasing someone or something
2an activity that you spend time doing, usually when you are not working

Using pursuit: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pursuit" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The police were in pursuit of the suspect.
Example
Her favorite pursuit is reading books.
Example
He gave up his legal pursuit to become an artist.

pursuit Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for pursuit

Antonyms for pursuit

Idioms Using pursuit

in pursuit of
actively seeking or trying to achieve something
Example
She spent years in pursuit of her dream to become a doctor.
a wild-goose chase
a foolish and hopeless search or pursuit of something unattainable
Example
Trying to find a needle in a haystack is a wild-goose chase.
a lost cause
a situation or goal that is hopeless or impossible to achieve
Example
Trying to convince him to change his mind is a lost cause.

Phrases with pursuit

in hot pursuit
chasing someone or something with great speed and determination
Example
The thief fled the scene with the police in hot pursuit.
pursuit of happiness
the right mentioned in the US Declaration of Independence to freely pursue joy and live life in a way that makes you happy
Example
The American dream is often associated with the pursuit of happiness.
pursuit of excellence
the effort to achieve the highest standards of quality and performance in a particular field
Example
The company's culture emphasizes the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their work.

Origins of pursuit

from Old French 'porsivre', meaning 'to pursue'

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Summary: pursuit in Brief

The term 'pursuit' [pərˈsuːt] refers to the act of following or chasing someone or something, as well as an activity one spends time doing. Examples include 'The police were in pursuit of the suspect,' and 'Her favorite pursuit is reading books.' Phrases like 'in hot pursuit' denote a determined chase, while idioms like 'a wild-goose chase' describe a hopeless search.