Synonyms for Pursue

Updated 2026-10-03 · Synonyms List editorial team

Quick answer: Looking for synonyms for pursue? This list helps you find the perfect word to describe chasing goals, people, or interests. Choose terms that match your tone, whether you need formal language for business or casual words for everyday stories.

Closest Synonyms for Pursue

chase: Suggests active movement to catch something. The hounds chased the rabbit through the dense forest.
follow: Implies moving behind or adhering to a path. She decided to follow his lead during the negotiation.
seek: Focuses on the desire to find or obtain. He seeks employment in the tech industry.
hunt: Connotes searching with intensity or determination. Detectives hunted for clues in the old files.
track: Means to follow signs or evidence closely. We tracked the weather patterns across the continent.
quest: Implies a long and serious journey for a goal. They embarked on a quest for ancient knowledge.
run after: Suggests physical effort to reach a target. The dog ran after the ball in the park.
go after: Indicates aggressive effort to achieve an objective. The sales team went after the new contract.
target: Focuses on aiming at a specific goal or person. We targeted the new market segment for growth.
investigate: Implies a formal examination or inquiry. The committee will investigate the reported incidents.
explore: Suggests looking into new ideas or places. Students explore different career paths during orientation.
advance: Means to move forward with a plan or cause. The army advanced toward the fortified position.

Formal Synonyms for Pursue

endeavor: A formal attempt to achieve something difficult. We endeavor to meet all safety standards.
undertake: To commit oneself to and begin a task. The firm undertook the complex restructuring process.
prosecute: Used in legal contexts or for carrying out. The state will prosecute those who break the law.
further: To help something progress or develop. She furthered her education by attending night school.
promote: To support or encourage the advancement of. The organization promotes healthy eating habits.
cultivate: To try to acquire or develop a quality. He cultivates relationships with key industry leaders.
effectuate: Very formal term for causing something to happen. They worked to effectuate the new policy changes.
realize: To make a goal or dream come true. She finally realized her ambition of owning a bakery.
execute: To carry out or put a plan into action. The team executed the strategy with precision and care.

Informal Synonyms for Pursue

go for: Casual way to say trying to get something. If you go for it, you might win.
dig into: Means to start working on something enthusiastically. Let us dig into the data this afternoon.
play with: Suggests experimenting with ideas lightly. She likes to play with different design concepts.
chase down: Implies finding something difficult to locate. I need to chase down that missing report.
get after: Means to work hard on a task. You need to get after your studies tonight.
run down: To find or catch someone or something. We ran down the source of the rumor.
hook up: Sometimes means to connect or find a lead. Let me hook you up with the right person.
take up: To start a new hobby or activity. He decided to take up gardening last spring.
stick with: Means to continue doing something persistently. You should stick with your current exercise plan.
give a shot: Casual phrase for attempting something once. Why not give the new recipe a shot?

Stronger and Weaker Words

consider: Weaker; implies thinking about something without acting yet.
look into: Weaker; suggests a casual or preliminary examination.
force: Stronger; implies using power to achieve an outcome.
watch: Weaker; implies observation without active engagement or pursuit.
check: Weaker; suitable for a quick verification or casual glance rather than a deep investigation.
browse: Weaker; indicates a relaxed look through options without the intent to commit or find a specific item urgently.
stalk: Stronger; conveys a secretive and persistent following, often with negative or predatory connotations.

Antonyms for Pursue

abandon
avoid
evade
flee
ignore
neglect
reject
retreat
shun
surrender

How to Pick the Right Synonym

Choosing the right synonym for pursue depends on your context and desired tone. Use formal words like endeavor or undertake in professional writing to sound serious. For casual conversations, go for or dig into works well. If you need to show intensity, try chase or hunt. Always consider the nuance to ensure your message lands clearly.

Best Synonym by Situation

in a legal context: prosecute: The district attorney decided to prosecute the case with rigorous attention to detail.
in a sports commentary: chase: The striker sprinted to chase the ball down the sideline.
in a business strategy memo: pursue: The firm plans to pursue new markets in Southeast Asia next quarter.
in a detective novel: track: The detective worked tirelessly to track the suspect across three cities.
in an academic paper: investigate: The study aims to investigate the effects of sleep on memory retention.
in a casual conversation: go for: You should go for that promotion if you feel ready.
in a job interview: seek: I am seeking a role that allows me to utilize my analytical skills.
in a military briefing: pursue: The unit was ordered to pursue the retreating forces.
in a creative writing workshop: explore: The author chose to explore themes of identity and belonging.
in a fitness plan: work toward: She dedicated her mornings to work toward her marathon goal.

Example Sentences

The police officer decided to chase the suspect into the alleyway.
We need to further our understanding of quantum mechanics through more experiments.
She decided to dig into the historical archives to find the truth.
The company aims to advance its position in the renewable energy sector.
He chose to follow the path least traveled by other entrepreneurs.
The detective tried to run down every lead provided by the witness.
It is important to undertake regular maintenance to keep the engine running smoothly.
Scientists continue to explore the depths of the ocean for new species.
The committee will look into the complaints submitted by the residents.
Many artists seek inspiration from the natural world around them.

Related Phrases and Idioms

follow up on: to take further action regarding a previous matter.
keep at: to persist in doing something despite difficulties.
set out to: to begin an activity with a specific intention or goal.
zero in on: to focus closely and accurately on a specific target.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between pursue and follow?

Pursue implies active effort to catch or achieve, while follow suggests moving behind or adhering to a path without necessarily trying to catch up.

Is chase a good synonym for pursue?

Yes, chase is a strong synonym that emphasizes speed and physical effort. It works well for literal chasing but can be too informal for serious business contexts.

When should I use seek instead of pursue?

Use seek when you want to emphasize the desire to find something. It is softer and often used for abstract goals like knowledge or truth rather than physical objects.

Can I use investigate as a synonym for pursue?

Yes, investigate works when the pursuit involves examining facts or clues. It is best suited for contexts involving research, mysteries, or formal inquiries.