1
as in tracking
the act of going after or in the tracks of another the cat ran down the street with a pair of dogs in pursuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in hobby
an activity outside of one's regular occupation that is engaged in primarily for pleasure a workaholic with few pursuits outside of the office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pursuit differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pursuit are business, calling, employment, métier, occupation, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When is business a more appropriate choice than pursuit?

While in some cases nearly identical to pursuit, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

When might calling be a better fit than pursuit?

The meanings of calling and pursuit largely overlap; however, calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

When is it sensible to use employment instead of pursuit?

The words employment and pursuit can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When would métier be a good substitute for pursuit?

The synonyms métier and pursuit are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

In what contexts can occupation take the place of pursuit?

While the synonyms occupation and pursuit are close in meaning, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When can work be used instead of pursuit?

Although the words work and pursuit have much in common, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pursuit In the pursuit of an amorphous vision of progress, its aggressive push on the limits of scale has rewritten the rules for a new era of AI development. Karen Hao, The Atlantic, 15 May 2025 The suspect left the scene after the hit-and-run collision and was involved in two separate vehicle pursuits with officers from the San Bruno and Menlo Park police departments, police said. Jason Green, Mercury News, 14 May 2025 Blending skill, grace and the daring pursuit of the ultimate underwater thrill, five divers—all trained by a world-class underwater choreographer—will compete to show off their skills during epic underwater dances. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025 Where McIlroy’s pursuit of the career grand slam teemed with anxiety and perennial expectations, Jordan Spieth’s search for his final leg of the slam seems more distant. Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pursuit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pursuit
Noun
  • Eric Church’s New Album Debuts In its first full tracking frame, Evangeline Vs.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • These measurements are tracked by Billboard and Luminate, and cover the data tracking eligibility period of March 22, 2024, through March 20, 2025.
    Paul Grein, Billboard, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • For the 37-year-old, that means maintaining her hair and nails, making time for daily walks, watching her favorite reality shows, attending therapy, reading and trying new hobbies.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
  • For Fay Robinett, the 8-year-old daughter of Cloudflare executive Ricky Robinett, building apps with AI has become a casual hobby outside of school.
    Angela Yang, NBC news, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Genetic tracing of market wildlife and viruses at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025
  • And its tracing of spatial distributions emerges from spying enormous bubblelike arrangements of galaxies thought to have formed from more primordial templates, called baryon acoustic oscillations (BAOs).
    Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The conversation, led by Lindsay Peoples, delved into the evolving intersection of sport, fashion, and identity, a topic Harrison is no stranger to.
    Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 19 May 2025
  • He’s covered every sport imaginable, from Little League to the World Series to the Olympics.
    David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Digital recreations of a young Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill (as Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker) have also appeared in the franchise.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Julia Sanchez, a recreation supervisor, said each year the Park District selects a different park for people to explore on Kids to Parks Day.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • These avocations can take many shapes—traveling, golf, time with family, snowboarding, knitting, hunting, gardening, fishing, church choir, college football, crossword puzzles, theater, cycling, and walking.
    Wes Moss, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • What began as an avocation turned into a serious occupation, as Fox Solomon turned to documenting the remnants of segregation visible in Chattanooga and across the South.
    Christina Cacouris, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • This is the third installment in the American Manhunt series as the ongoing documentary run has focused on the Boston Marathon Bombers and the OJ Simpson Bronco chase.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Federal agents ultimately detained him outside the courthouse after a foot chase.
    Todd Richmond, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • But the amusement doesn’t stop inside Hidden Garden.
    Katie Lara, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • When the flamboyant Henry Paget arrives in 1890s North Wales from France to claim his aristocratic inheritance, his theatrical flair and defiant eccentricities send shockwaves through the upper-class elite, much to the amusement of the local townspeople.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 6 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pursuit. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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