pursuit

noun

pur·​suit pər-ˈsüt 

-ˈsyüt

1

: the act of pursuing

2

: an activity that one engages in as a vocation, profession, or avocation : occupation

Synonyms of pursuit

• tracking
• tracing
• chasing
• pursuing
• chase
• search
• trailing
• tailing

Choose the Right Synonym for pursuit

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of pursuit in a Sentence

The hounds were running in the woods in pursuit of a fox.

She enjoys reading, knitting, and other quiet pursuits.

Recent Examples on the Web

Black’s lawyers have repeatedly denounced the Oversight Committee’s pursuit of the former head of a private equity firm as an abuse of congressional power. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

The quest for tickets is the first of several McGuffins in the film that, while fun, bring to life the essential truth that the core of being teenage is the shiny allure of intangible pursuits, those things that promise fame, friends and being cool. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026

According to prosecutors, Arrington got out of the driver's side and ran and was arrested after a short foot chase, and a dog tracking the pursuit route located three firearms. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Jacob Arriaga Guerrero was arrested March 23, 2025, after stealing a pickup truck, robbing a woman at gunpoint at a Walmart in Crowley and leading Crowley police on a pursuit into Johnson County. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pursute, from pursure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pursuit

• hot pursuit
• in close pursuit
• in full pursuit
• in hot pursuit
• in pursuit of
• pursuit plane

Rhymes for pursuit

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute

Kids Definition

pursuit

noun

pur·​suit pər-ˈsüt 

1

: the act of pursuing

2

: an activity done especially for pleasure