Understanding ‘Pursue’: Essential IELTS Vocabulary
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of the verb ‘pursue’ for IELTS learners aiming for a band score of 6.5 or higher. This video covers pronunciation, definitions, examples, and common errors to help you use ‘pursue’ correctly in your IELTS exam.
Imagine you’re chasing after your dreams, working hard to achieve your goals. That’s what it means to pursue something.
Today, we’re exploring the word pursue, an essential vocabulary item for IELTS learners aiming for a band score of six point five or higher.
Word type: Pursue is a verb, meaning it’s an action word. It’s pronounced per-sue, with the stress on the second syllable.
Meaning: To pursue means to follow or chase after something or someone, either literally or figuratively.
It can also mean to continue doing an activity or to try to achieve a particular goal over a period of time.
Word history: The word pursue comes from the Latin word prosequi, which means to follow. It entered the English language through Old French in the fourteenth century.
Antonyms: Some opposites of pursue include abandon, neglect, ignore, and give up.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to pursue include chase, follow, seek, hunt, and strive for.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at how pursue can be used in different contexts. The police pursued the suspect through the crowded streets.
Many young people pursue higher education to improve their career prospects. Despite the challenges, she continued to pursue her dream of becoming a professional athlete.
Common errors in use: Be careful not to confuse pursue with persue. Persue is a common misspelling. Also, remember that pursue is often followed by a direct object.
For example, you pursue a goal, not pursue to a goal. To wrap up, pursue is a versatile and important word for IELTS learners.
It demonstrates your ability to discuss goals, ambitions, and actions taken towards achieving something.
By incorporating pursue into your vocabulary, you’ll be one step closer to pursuing that higher band score in your IELTS exam.

