- Have you ever wondered if you should “follow” a career or “pursue” it?
- Do you want to sound more professional when discussing your long-term life goals?
- Are you confused about which nouns naturally “stick” to the verb pursue in a business or academic context?
Mastering pursue collocations is a vital step toward English fluency. In English, “pursue” is a high-level verb that implies a dedicated, active effort toward a specific outcome. Using it correctly with the right nouns (collocations) signals to native speakers that you have a sophisticated command of the language and understand the nuances of formal and professional communication.
Common Collocations with Pursue as a Verb
After a linguistic analysis of the word pursue, it is identified strictly as a verb in modern English. While the noun form is “pursuit,” the word “pursue” itself does not function as a noun. Therefore, our focus will be on the various categories of nouns that act as direct objects for this verb.
1. Education and Career Paths
In professional and academic settings, “pursue” describes the act of working toward a qualification or a specific professional trajectory.
- Pursue a career: He decided to pursue a career in international law.
- Pursue a degree: Many students pursue a degree while working part-time jobs.
- Pursue studies: She moved to London to pursue further studies in economics.
- Pursue an opportunity: The company decided not to pursue the opportunity in the Asian market.
2. Goals, Dreams, and Interests
This category involves personal ambitions and the things that drive an individual’s passion.
- Pursue a dream: It takes courage to pursue a dream of becoming an actor.
- Pursue a goal: The team is determined to pursue the goal of zero emissions by 2030.
- Pursue an interest: In his retirement, he finally had time to pursue his interest in woodworking.
- Pursue a passion: She quit her corporate job to pursue her passion for organic farming.
3. Legal and Official Actions
In a legal context, “pursue” is used when following through with formal processes or investigations.
- Pursue legal action: The victim decided to pursue legal action against the negligent driver.
- Pursue a claim: You have the right to pursue a claim for insurance compensation.
- Pursue a lead: The police are currently pursuing several leads in the investigation.
- Pursue a policy: The government continues to pursue a policy of fiscal responsibility.
4. Relationships and People
While less common in casual 2024 conversation than in the past, it is still used to describe the act of seeking a relationship or following someone physically.
- Pursue a relationship: They both agreed they were too busy to pursue a romantic relationship.
- Pursue a suspect: Officers pursued the suspect through the narrow alleyways.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pursue a career | Verb + Noun | To work toward a specific professional path. |
| Pursue a degree | Verb + Noun | To study for a university qualification. |
| Pursue legal action | Verb + Noun | To start a lawsuit or legal process. |
| Pursue a dream | Verb + Noun | To follow one’s highest ambitions. |
| Pursue a lead | Verb + Noun | To investigate a piece of information. |
| Pursue a passion | Verb + Noun | To dedicate time to something you love. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| Pursue for a career (Incorrect preposition) | Pursue a career |
| Make a pursuit of a degree (Overly wordy) | Pursue a degree |
| Follow legal action (Unnatural verb choice) | Pursue legal action |
| Pursue a hobby (Less common) | Pursue an interest (or “Take up a hobby”) |
“After five years in accounting, Maria realized she wasn’t happy. She decided to pursue her passion for photography instead of continuing to pursue a career that didn’t fulfill her. She applied to a prestigious academy to pursue a degree in visual arts. Although her parents were worried, they supported her choice to pursue a dream that she had held since childhood.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Pursue Collocations
Is “pursue” more formal than “follow”?
Yes, “pursue” is generally more formal. While you can “follow a path,” you “pursue a career” or “pursue a goal.” “Pursue” suggests a more active, determined effort than “follow.”
Should I use a preposition after “pursue”?
No. “Pursue” is a transitive verb, meaning it is followed directly by a noun (the object). You should not say “pursue to” or “pursue for.” For example: “I will pursue the truth,” not “I will pursue for the truth.”
What is the difference between “pursue” and “chase”?
“Chase” is often used for physical movement (chasing a ball) or informal goals (chasing money). “Pursue” is the professional and academic standard for long-term objectives and formal investigations.
Can “pursue” be used in the passive voice?
Yes. It is very common in formal writing. For example: “The policy is being actively pursued by the board of directors” or “The suspect was pursued by the police.”
What is the noun form of “pursue”?
The noun form is pursuit. While you pursue a goal, you are in pursuit of a goal. Note that “pursuit” almost always requires the preposition “of.”
My English professor always told us to avoid vague verbs. This article helps me swap out weaker verbs for 'pursue' when appropriate. Great job!
That's fantastic to hear, Michael! Your professor gave excellent advice. Replacing vague verbs with precise, impactful ones like 'pursue' is a hallmark of sophisticated writing and speaking. We're delighted our article could help you on that journey!
I love how this article emphasizes the 'active effort.' It really helps me visualize the meaning. Are there other verbs with a similar strong connotation of effort?
We're glad that resonates with you, Olga! Yes, other verbs that imply strong, dedicated effort include 'strive' (e.g., 'strive for excellence'), 'endeavor' (more formal, e.g., 'endeavor to improve'), and 'undertake' (e.g., 'undertake a challenging project'). Exploring these will further enrich your vocabulary!
Can I use 'pursue' for short-term goals, or is it exclusively for long-term aspirations?
That's an excellent question, Jin! While 'pursue' often implies long-term dedication, it can technically be used for shorter, significant efforts too, as long as they require active dedication. For example, 'We need to pursue this lead aggressively to close the deal this quarter.' However, for very brief or casual goals, 'work on' or 'focus on' might be more common. It's about the intensity of effort rather than just the duration.
Are there any situations where 'pursue' would sound too aggressive or intense? Like 'pursue a friendship'?
That's a really perceptive point, Isabelle! While 'pursue' implies dedication, it can sometimes be too strong for personal relationships. 'Pursue a friendship' might sound a bit intense or even transactional, as if you're actively hunting for a friend. For relationships, words like 'cultivate,' 'develop,' or 'build' a friendship are much more natural and warm. Context is always key!
This is great. I often struggle with sounding professional in English without sounding unnatural. Knowing these collocations helps a lot.
We totally understand that challenge, Kenji! The goal is always to sound natural and appropriate for the context. Mastering collocations like those with 'pursue' is a fantastic strategy, as it shows you understand how words naturally fit together in English, boosting both your fluency and confidence. Keep up the amazing work!
I've noticed 'pursue' in legal contexts too, like 'pursue legal action.' Does it have the same meaning of dedicated effort there?
You're spot on, Sophie! In legal contexts, 'pursue legal action,' 'pursue a claim,' or 'pursue charges' carries the exact same implication of dedicated, active effort. It means to initiate and continue with a legal process with determination towards a specific outcome. Great observation!
Can we also 'pursue' abstract things like 'happiness' or 'justice'? Or is it mainly for career/education goals?
Excellent question, Ravi! Yes, absolutely! 'Pursue' is very commonly used with abstract nouns too. You can definitely 'pursue happiness,' 'pursue justice,' 'pursue truth,' or even 'pursue peace.' In these contexts, it still carries the meaning of dedicated, active effort towards achieving or maintaining that abstract ideal.
I'm a teacher, and this is a great resource for explaining formal vs. informal vocabulary to my advanced students. The 'dedicated, active effort' description is very clear.
Thank you for the kind words, Maria! We're thrilled that our content can be a valuable resource for educators. Highlighting the nuances of 'dedicated, active effort' is key to mastering these higher-level verbs. Feel free to share any feedback on how we can further support you and your students!
This article is exactly what I needed! I'm applying for scholarships and want my essays to sound polished. 'Pursue a research interest' or 'pursue an entrepreneurial venture' seems like perfect phrases to use.
That's wonderful to hear, Kwame! You've precisely identified how 'pursue' can elevate your academic and professional writing. Using it with collocations like 'research interest' or 'entrepreneurial venture' demonstrates a sophisticated command of English and commitment to your goals. Best of luck with your scholarship applications!
I appreciated the clarification that 'pursue' is strictly a verb and 'pursuit' is the noun. I've definitely mixed those up before. Are there other common high-level verbs where the noun form is very different?
Excellent point, Elena! Yes, there are many! Think of 'decide' (verb) vs. 'decision' (noun), 'explain' (verb) vs. 'explanation' (noun), or 'succeed' (verb) vs. 'success' (noun). Paying attention to these verb-noun pairs is a fantastic way to expand your vocabulary and improve your grammatical accuracy. Keep up the excellent work!