From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpursuitpur‧suit /pəˈsjuːt $ pərˈsuːt/ ●○○ AWL noun 1 [uncountable]DO when someone tries to get, achieve, or find something in a determined way → pursuepursuit of the pursuit of liberty and happiness the pursuit of war criminalsin (the) pursuit of something People are having to move to other areas in pursuit of work.2 [uncountable]FOLLOW when someone chases or follows someone else → pursuein pursuit There were four police cars in pursuit. The quarterback sprinted toward the end zone with Jansen in hot pursuit (=following closely behind).3 [countable usually plural] formalDO an activity such as a sport or hobby, which you spend a lot of time doing pursuits such as swimming and tennis
Examples from the Corpus
pursuit• Gentle took a moment to ask if Judith was all right - which she was - then raced in pursuit.• The Confederates, their own ranks disorganized and in a state of confusion, made only a limited pursuit.• Science is a logical pursuit but progress in science does not necessarily, or even usually, follow a straight path.• Moriarty spent the summer focusing on his musical pursuits.• I learned something about the difference between a serious and quiet pursuit and a popular movement.• His aristocratic family was so against his religious pursuits they locked him away for fifteen months.• But it is likely that both would be harder-nosed in the pursuit of national interests.• Furthermore, he is only concerned with one thing and that is the pursuit of the White Whale.• In a traditional adventure story the pursuit of personal honour is drawn to an absolute conclusion.pursuit of• the pursuit of truth and justicein pursuit• The suspect crossed the bridge, with four police cars in pursuit.• A deer suddenly sprang across the road, with a pack of hunting dogs in hot pursuit.• Cheng raced through a crowded shopping mall in pursuit of the man who had grabbed her purse.• The robbers sped off in a stolen car with three police vehicles in pursuit.Origin pursuit (1300-1400) Old French poursuite, from poursuir; → PURSUE 