prosecute

verb pros·e·cute \ ˈprä-si-ˌkyüt \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: prosecute in a Sentence

Editor's Note: prosecute vs. persecute

Definition of prosecute

prosecuted; prosecuting

transitive verb

1 : to follow to the end : pursue until finished

prosecute a war

2 : to engage in : perform

3 a : to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law

b : to institute legal proceedings with reference to

prosecute a claim

intransitive verb

: to institute and carry on a legal suit or prosecution

—

prosecutable

play \ˌprä-sə-ˈkyü-tə-bəl\ adjective

See prosecute defined for English-language learners

See prosecute defined for kids

Examples of prosecute in a Sentence

The store's owner agreed not to prosecute if the boy returned the stolen goods.
The case is being prosecuted by the assistant district attorney.
She criticized the government for the way it has prosecuted the war.

Recent Examples of prosecute from the Web

The New York attorney general’s office has repeatedly asked the state legislature to revise the New York criminal code’s double jeopardy provisions to ensure that the recipient of a federal pardon can still be prosecuted for violations of state law.

— matthew yglesias, Vox, "The 4 biggest political stories of the week, explained," 1 June 2018
Three members of the Hartford City Council want President Donald Trump and U.S. Border Patrol agents to be prosecuted in international court for the shooting death of a migrant last week in Rio Bravo, Texas.

— matthew ormseth, courant.com, "Hartford City Council Calls For President Trump To Face United Nations Court For Shooting Death of Migrant Woman In Texas," 31 May 2018
The state prosecutor last week ordered dozens of civil servants to be prosecuted for alleged corruption after funds went missing from state entities such as the National Youth Service.

— ramah nyang, Bloomberg.com, "Big Four Spending Splurge Pushes Kenya to Bet on Tax Hikes," 31 May 2018
And not a single judge publicly recommended that any officer be prosecuted for giving false testimony under oath.

— maya dukmasova, Chicago Reader, "Archive Dive / Crime / Criminal Justice That time a Cook County judge ruled on the case of a man he himself put in prison when he was still a prosecutor," 25 May 2018
Often, parents whose children die after being left in cars are charged with manslaughter or prosecuted for neglect.

— NBC News, "Hot cars and kids: Study shows killer temps hit in an hour," 24 May 2018
An Australian inquiry into child abuse recommended in December that the Catholic Church lift its demand of celibacy from clergy and that priests be prosecuted for failing to report evidence of pedophilia heard in the confessional.

— rod mcguirk, USA TODAY, "Australian archbishop steps down after cover-up conviction," 23 May 2018
An Australian inquiry into child abuse recommended in December that the Catholic Church lift its demand of celibacy from clergy and that priests be prosecuted for failing to report evidence of pedophilia heard in the confessional.

— rod mcguirk, BostonGlobe.com, "Australian archbishop steps down after cover-up conviction," 23 May 2018
Denny Butler, recommended that Handy be prosecuted for perjury in Chandler’s case but Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine’s office did not press charges.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "Special prosecutor named for ex-cop who helped convict 3 innocent men," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prosecute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

prosecute vs. persecute

Take care to distinguish between prosecuted and persecuted, although we sincerely hope that neither word applies to you. Persecute typically has a small range of meanings, such as “to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict.” Although the word is occasionally found in dialectal use to mean “prosecute,” many usage guides consider this to be an error. Prosecute is generally found today in a legal context (“to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law”), although the word may also be used to mean “to follow to the end” or “to engage in.” If someone is prosecuted they are being tried in a court of law; if they are persecuted they are being targeted and harassed.

Origin and Etymology of prosecute

Middle English, from Latin prosecutus, past participle of prosequi to pursue — more at pursue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

prosecute Synonyms

Synonyms

accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, pull off, put through;

Near Antonyms

fail;

skimp, slight, slur;

ace, nail;

engage (in), practice (also practise);

work (at);

reduplicate, reenact, repeat;

actualize, attain, realize;

complete, end, finish, wind up;

Phrases

go through;

PROSECUTE Defined for English Language Learners

prosecute

verb

Definition of prosecute for English Language Learners

law : to hold a trial against a person who is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty
: to work as a lawyer to try to prove a case against someone accused of a crime
: to continue to do (something) : to proceed with (something)