pursued: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, neutral
Quick answer
What does “pursued” mean?
Followed or chased persistently to catch or attain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Followed or chased persistently to catch or attain.
Strived to achieve or continue with a goal, course of action, or interest over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in everyday British English, equally common in formal registers in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparatively high and similar frequency in both corpora.
Grammar
How to Use “pursued” in a Sentence
[Subject] pursued [Object (goal/person)][Subject] pursued [Object] with [determination/zeal][Subject] pursued [Object] for [period of time]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pursued” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The officer pursued the suspect through the backstreets of London.
- For years, she pursued a postgraduate degree in medieval history.
- The government pursued a policy of austerity.
American English
- The reporter pursued the story despite threats.
- He pursued a career in finance after graduating from college.
- The lawsuit was pursued all the way to the Supreme Court.
adjective
British English
- The pursued vehicle crashed into a barrier.
- A pursued suspect may act unpredictably.
American English
- The pursued man eventually surrendered.
- The pursued strategy proved to be ineffective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Common for describing strategic goals, career advancement, or legal claims. 'The company pursued a merger with its rival.'
Academic
Used for research interests, lines of inquiry, or intellectual arguments. 'She pursued this hypothesis in her later work.'
Everyday
Used for hobbies, personal goals, or minor investigations. 'He pursued his interest in gardening after retirement.'
Technical
In legal contexts: to follow a legal claim. In military contexts: to follow a retreating enemy.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pursued”
- Incorrect: *'He pursued to find the answer.' Correct: 'He pursued the answer.' or 'He sought to find the answer.'
- Overusing in simple past contexts where 'followed' or 'tried' is more natural.
- Misspelling as 'persued'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is more commonly used metaphorically for goals, interests, careers, or lines of inquiry. The physical chasing sense is less frequent.
'Pursued' implies a continuous, active process over time. 'Sought' is more about the attempt or desire to find/achieve, not necessarily the sustained action.
No, 'pursued' is the past simple and past participle form. The present tense is 'pursue'.
No, it's redundant. 'Pursued' already contains the meaning of 'going after'. Simply say 'pursued [object]'.
Followed or chased persistently to catch or attain.
Pursued is usually formal, neutral in register.
Pursued: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈsjuːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /pərˈsuːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hotly pursued”
- “pursued to the ends of the earth”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a detective in a PURSUIT car, who has PURSUED a suspect all day. The 'SUED' in pursued sounds like a legal case being followed up.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOALS ARE DESTINATIONS (The path is pursued); KNOWLEDGE IS A TERRITORY (A line of inquiry is pursued).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'pursued' most correctly?