French word

poursuite

Pronunciation

IPA/puʁsɥit/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpursuit

Example

La poursuite du voleur a été longue.

The pursuit of the thief lasted a long time.

Illustration for poursuite (pursuit)

More examples

La poursuite en voiture s'est terminée par une collision.

The car chase ended in a collision.

Core concept

A target moves ahead while a pursuer keeps its trail and steadily tries to close the gap.

Common phrases

  • poursuite en voiture

    car chase

  • poursuite à grande vitesse

    high-speed chase

Similar words

traque: The act of secretly tracking someone to find and capture them.
chasse: The act of chasing an animal or person to catch them.
course-poursuite: A high-speed vehicle chase after someone trying to escape.

Definition in French

Décrit le fait de suivre de près quelqu'un ou quelque chose pour tenter de l'attraper.

Word origin

The noun poursuite was formed from poursuivre, which developed from Old French pursuivre and ultimately from Latin prosequi.

Usage tips

  • The phrase à la poursuite de means 'in pursuit of', while poursuite judiciaire refers to legal proceedings rather than a chase.

Other meanings

  • continuationnoun
  • prosecutionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word