From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprosecutepros‧e‧cute /ˈprɒsɪkjuːt $ ˈprɑː-/ ●●○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]SCT to charge someone with a crime and try to show that they are guilty of it in a court of law Shoplifters will be prosecuted.prosecute somebody for (doing) something Buxton is being prosecuted for assault.prosecute somebody under a law/Act etc The company is to be prosecuted under the Health and Safety Act.2 [intransitive, transitive]SCTSCLREPRESENT if a lawyer prosecutes a case, he or she tries to prove that the person charged with a crime is guilty → defend Mrs Lynn Smith, prosecuting, said the offence took place on January 27.3 [transitive] formalCONTINUE/NOT STOP to continue doing something We cannot prosecute the investigation further.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
prosecute• Last year, Napolitano's office prosecuted 115 child abuse cases, the highest number in the nation.• Older men are more likely to be prosecuted.• Then he drove off, the wrong way down the dual carriageway, said Jane Cockburn, prosecuting.• People who give the police false information will be prosecuted.• Employers who are aware of a problem and who don't act are liable to be prosecuted.• That bill would have allowed juveniles to be prosecuted as adults for drug conspiracy, violent crimes and offenses involving guns.• Winstanley was prosecuted for criminal damage of property.• Persecuting the tout - and, if possible, prosecuting him as well - has become a sport in itself.• The shopkeeper is unlikely to prosecute if the stolen goods are returned.• Baldwin was prosecuted in 1998 for distributing child pornography on line.• The evidence in this case was so weak that to prosecute it at all was questionable.• Who is going to prosecute the case?• However, Bee said she still planned to prosecute the four on robbery charges in Superior Court.• We will continue to prosecute the war to the end.• The Prime Minister pledged to do everything possible to prosecute those who carried out the bombing.prosecute somebody for (doing) something• Simon Lawler, prosecuting asked for a 14 day adjournment so that the charges against the two officers could be finalised.• Despite the increase in incidents of police abuse, the department showed disinterest in prosecuting police officers for brutality.• That bill would have allowed juveniles to be prosecuted as adults for drug conspiracy, violent crimes and offenses involving guns.• Would they wish to prosecute the girl for her part in the abduction of their son?• It is notable that in the United Kingdom, for example, ministers have prosecuted civil servants for releasing information to Parliament.• By all means prosecute them for that.• Holmes sought their identities, so he could prosecute them for violating laws regarding grand jury secrecy.• Holmes had subpoenaed Lenhart to name the jurors, so he could prosecute them for violating laws requiring grand jury secrecy.From Longman Business Dictionaryprosecutepros‧e‧cute /ˈprɒsɪkjuːtˈprɑː-/ verb [intransitive, transitive]LAW1if the state authorities prosecute someone, they officially say that person must be judged by a court of law for a particular crimeShoplifters (=people who steal things from shops) will be prosecuted.prosecute somebody for somethingJohnson is being prosecuted for an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act.2if a lawyer prosecutes a case, he or she tries to prove that the person charged with a crime is guiltyThe attorney prosecuting the case refused to comment on the trial. → compare defend→ See Verb tableOrigin prosecute (1400-1500) Latin past participle of prosequi “to follow and try to catch” 