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Pursue vs Pursuit - What's the difference?

pursue | pursuit |

As a verb pursue

is to follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.

As a noun pursuit is

the act of pursuing.

pursue

English

Verb

(pursu)
  • (obsolete) To follow with harmful intent; to try to harm, to persecute, torment.
  • To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
  • * Wyclif Bible, John xv. 20
    • The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued' me, they shall ' pursue you also.
  • * 2009 , Martin Chulov, ‘Iraqi shoe-thrower claims he suffered torture in jail’, The Guardian , 15 Sep 09:
    • He now feared for his life, and believed US intelligence agents would pursue him.
  • To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
    • Her rival pursued a quite different course.
  • To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
  • * 2009 , Benjamin Pogrund, ‘Freeze won't hurt Netanyahu’, The Guardian , 1 Dec 09:
    • He even stands to gain in world terms: his noisy critics strengthen his projected image of a man determined to pursue peace with Palestinians.
  • To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

    • See also

    * follow * chase

    pursuit

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of pursuing.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=Mother
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 27, author=Alistair Magowan, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Bayern Munich 2-0 Man City , passage=Not only were Jupp Heynckes' team pacey in attack but they were relentless in their pursuit of the ball once they had lost it, and as the game wore on they merely increased their dominance as City wilted in the Allianz Arena.}}
  • A hobby or recreational activity, done regularly.
  • (cycling) A discipline in track cycling where two opposing teams start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch their opponents.
  • (legal, obsolete) prosecution
  • * Fuller
    • That pursuit for tithes ought, and of ancient time did pertain to the spiritual court.

    Derived terms

    * curve of pursuit, pursuit curve * in pursuit * individual pursuit * pursuit plane * team pursuit

    External links

    * ("pursuit" on Wikipedia)