pursuit

noun

pur·​suit pər-ˈsüt How to pronounce pursuit (audio)
-ˈsyüt
Synonyms of pursuitnext
1
: the act of pursuing
2
: an activity that one engages in as a vocation, profession, or avocation : occupation

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for pursuit

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of pursuit in a Sentence

The hounds were running in the woods in pursuit of a fox. She enjoys reading, knitting, and other quiet pursuits.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Their child-free lifestyle fuels frequent travel and personal growth, with 88% directing their income toward enriching experiences and self-development, while 76% credit their child-free status for enabling these pursuits. —Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024 Soto is up to the taking a meeting phase of one of baseball’s biggest free agent sagas that is perhaps is seeing more details than the pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, who went from allegedly signing with the Toronto Blue Jays to actually joining the Dodgers on a massively deferred deal. —Larry Fleisher, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 Fremont County deputies and troopers with the Iowa State Patrol chased the Kia in a pursuit that crossed over into Missouri, the sheriff's office said. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2024 Today’s American dream tends to involve virtual pursuits—influencing, making a killer app, getting lucky with crypto—but the gladiatorial ring is a macho, meat-space proving ground. —Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pursuit 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pursute, from pursure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pursuit was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing pursuit

Dictionary Entries Near pursuit

pursue

pursuit

pursuit curve

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pursuit. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

pursuit

noun
pur·​suit pər-ˈsüt How to pronounce pursuit (audio)
1
: the act of pursuing
2
: an activity done especially for pleasure

More from Merriam-Webster on pursuit

Nglish: Translation of pursuit for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of pursuit for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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