Pursue vs. Continue — What's the Difference?

Follow or chase (someone or something)

To go on with a particular action or in a particular condition; persist

Continue or proceed along (a path or route)

To exist over a period; last

To follow in an effort to overtake or capture; chase

To remain in the same state, capacity, or place

To strive to gain or accomplish

To go on after an interruption; resume

To proceed along the course of; follow

To extend in a given direction

To carry further; advance

To carry on; persist in

To take action regarding (something), especially with the intention of sustained effort

To carry further in time, space, or development; extend

To engage in (a vocation or hobby, for example); practice.

To cause to remain or last; retain or maintain

To try to have a romantic relationship with

To carry on after an interruption; resume

To continue to torment or afflict; haunt

(Law) To postpone or adjourn.

To follow in an effort to overtake or capture; chase.

(transitive) To proceed with doing an activity; to prolong an activity.

To take action regarding something or carry on an established activity or project.

(transitive) To make last; to prolong.

(ambitransitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.

(transitive) To retain someone or something in a given state, position, etc.

(transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).

To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.

(transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).

(intransitive) To resume.

(transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).

To adjourn, prorogue, put off.

(intransitive) To act as a legal prosecutor.

(poker slang) To make a continuation bet.

To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare.

(video games) An option allowing the player to resume play after game over, when all lives have been lost, while retaining their progress.

To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.

To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.

To proceed along, with a view to some and or object; to follow; to go in; as, Captain Cook pursued a new route; the administration pursued a wise course.

To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last.

To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue.

To be steadfast or constant in any course; to persevere; to abide; to endure; to persist; to keep up or maintain a particular condition, course, or series of actions; as, the army continued to advance.

To follow as an example; to imitate.

To unite; to connect.

To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.

To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to cease not.

To go in pursuit; to follow.

To carry onward or extend; to prolong or produce; to add to or draw out in length.

To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.

To retain; to suffer or cause to remain; as, the trustees were continued; also, to suffer to live.

To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor.

Continue a certain state, condition, or activity;

Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in;

Continue with one's activities;

Follow in or as if in pursuit;

Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;

Go in search of or hunt for;

Move ahead; travel onward in time or space;

Carry further or advance;

Allow to remain in a place or position;

Carry forward;

Continue after an interruption;

Continue in a place, position, or situation;

Exist over a prolonged period of time;