Pursue vs. Seek — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 28, 2024
Pursue involves actively following or striving toward a goal or object, often with determination; seek implies a more general attempt to find or obtain something.
Difference Between Pursue and Seek
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Key Differences
Pursue is characterized by an active and sustained effort to achieve a specific goal, whether it's a career, an ideal, or an object. Whereas, seek tends to describe a broader search or exploration, which might not have as clear or as urgent of an objective.
In pursue, there is usually a clear path or method involved, as in pursuing a degree or a person in a romantic sense. On the other hand, seek might involve multiple methods or avenues of approach, such as seeking happiness or solutions to a problem.
People pursue things that they have decided are of significant value to them; this decision drives their actions and perseverance. In contrast, to seek can also imply trying to locate or discover something without a commitment to a long-term chase or follow-through.
Pursue often implies a long-term commitment and is used in contexts where perseverance is key. Seek, however, can be used for both short-term and long-term searches, emphasizing the act of looking rather than the duration or intensity.
Career-wise, an individual may pursue a profession, indicating a clear, targeted effort to enter and succeed in a specific field. Whereas, someone might seek a job, indicating a search that could encompass various types of work until the right opportunity presents itself.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To follow or engage in systematically
To attempt to find or obtain
Intensity
High, with a focus on sustained effort
Varies, generally less intense
Duration
Long-term orientation
Can be short-term or long-term
Objective Clarity
Clear and specific goals
Broader or less defined objectives
Contextual Use
Often used in personal ambitions and relationships
Commonly used in general searches and inquiries
Compare with Definitions
Pursue
To engage in (an activity or course of action).
He decided to pursue a career in music.
Seek
To go in search of someone.
The manager is seeking a new assistant.
Pursue
To follow and try to catch or capture (someone or something) for a specific purpose.
The detective pursued the suspect across several states.
Seek
To attempt to find something.
They went to the library to seek information on their topic.
Pursue
To strive to gain or accomplish something.
She continues to pursue her master's degree in biology.
Seek
To ask for (something) from someone.
He sought help from a professional.
Pursue
To seek to attain or accomplish a goal over a long period.
She pursued perfection in her craft.
Seek
To explore a possibility or conduct an inquiry.
She sought to understand the underlying cause.
Pursue
To continue or proceed along (a path or route).
The hikers pursued the trail despite the bad weather.
Seek
To try or attempt to achieve something.
They are seeking to resolve the dispute by mediation.
Pursue
Follow or chase (someone or something)
A heavily indebted businessman was being pursued by creditors
The officer pursued the van
Seek
To try to locate or discover; search for
Animals seeking prey.
Pursue
Continue or proceed along (a path or route)
The road pursued a straight course over the scrubland
Seek
To endeavor to obtain or reach
Seek a college education.
Pursue
To follow in an effort to overtake or capture; chase
A fox that was pursued by hounds.
Seek
To go to or toward
Water seeks its own level.
Pursue
To strive to gain or accomplish
Pursue lofty political goals.
Seek
To inquire for; request
Seek directions from a police officer.
Pursue
To proceed along the course of; follow
A ship that pursued the southern course.
Seek
To try; endeavor
Seek to do good.
Pursue
To carry further; advance
Let's not pursue this argument.
Seek
To make a search or investigation
Seek and you will find.
Pursue
To take action regarding (something), especially with the intention of sustained effort
A detective who pursued each lead.
Seek
(ambitransitive) To try to find; to look for; to search for.
I seek wisdom.
Pursue
To engage in (a vocation or hobby, for example); practice.
Seek
(transitive) To ask for; to solicit; to beseech.
I seek forgiveness through repentance.
Pursue
To try to have a romantic relationship with
A lady who was pursued by many suitors.
Seek
(transitive) To try to acquire or gain; to strive after; to aim at.
I sought my fortune on the goldfields.
Pursue
To continue to torment or afflict; haunt
Was pursued by the demons of lust and greed.
Seek
To go, move, travel (in a given direction).
Pursue
To follow in an effort to overtake or capture; chase.
Seek
(transitive) To try to reach or come to; to go to; to resort to.
When the alarm went off I sought the exit in a panic.
Pursue
To take action regarding something or carry on an established activity or project.
Seek
To attempt, endeavour, try
Our company does not seek to limit its employees from using the internet or engaging in social networking.
Pursue
(ambitransitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
Pursue one's dreams
Seek
To navigate through a stream.
Pursue
(transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
Her rival pursued a quite different course.
Seek
(computing) The operation of navigating through a stream.
Pursue
(transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
Seek
Sick.
Pursue
(transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).
Seek
To go in search of; to look for; to search for; to try to find.
The man saked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren.
Pursue
(intransitive) To act as a legal prosecutor.
Seek
To inquire for; to ask for; to solicit; to beseech.
Others, tempting him, sought of him a sign.
Pursue
To follow with a view to overtake; to follow eagerly, or with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare.
We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.
The happiness of men lies in purswing,Not in possessing.
Seek
To try to acquire or gain; to strive after; to aim at; as, to seek wealth or fame; to seek one's life.
Pursue
To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.
The fame of ancient matrons you pursue.
Seek
To try to reach or come to; to go to; to resort to.
Seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal.
Since great Ulysses sought the Phrygian plains.
Pursue
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.
Seek
To make search or inquiry; to endeavor to make discovery.
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read.
To seekUpon a man and do his soul unrest.
Pursue
To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue.
Seek
The movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk
Pursue
To follow as an example; to imitate.
Seek
Try to get or reach;
Seek a position
Seek an education
Seek happiness
Pursue
To follow with enmity; to persecute; to call to account.
The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have pursued me, they shall pursue you also.
Seek
Try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of;
The police are searching for clues
They are searching for the missing man in the entire county
Pursue
To go in pursuit; to follow.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth.
Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition.
Seek
Make an effort or attempt;
He tried to shake off his fears
The infant had essayed a few wobbly steps
The police attempted to stop the thief
He sought to improve himself
She always seeks to do good in the world
Pursue
To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.
I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider.
Seek
Go to or towards;
A liquid seeks its own level
Pursue
To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor.
Seek
Inquire for;
Seek directions from a local
Pursue
Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in;
She pursued many activities
They engaged in a discussion
Pursue
Follow in or as if in pursuit;
The police car pursued the suspected attacker
Her bad deed followed her and haunted her dreams all her life
Pursue
Go in search of or hunt for;
Pursue a hobby
Pursue
Carry further or advance;
Can you act on this matter soon?
Common Curiosities
What is an example of pursuing in a relationship context?
Pursuing someone in a relationship means actively showing interest and making efforts to build a closer bond over time.
Is "seek" often used in legal contexts?
Yes, "seek" is frequently used in legal contexts, such as seeking justice, seeking compensation, or seeking a verdict.
What does it mean to pursue a hobby?
To pursue a hobby means to engage in it regularly and with passion, often seeking to improve skills and deepen involvement over time.
What is a key difference between pursuing and seeking a job?
Pursuing a job often involves targeted efforts such as networking and customizing resumes for specific roles, whereas seeking a job might be more general and exploratory.
How does one typically pursue academic goals?
Pursuing academic goals typically involves enrolling in relevant courses, studying consistently, and working towards achieving high marks and understanding.
Can one seek and pursue at the same time?
Yes, one can start with seeking (exploring or searching) and transition into pursuing (actively and persistently striving) as goals become clearer.
Can "seek" imply urgency?
While "seek" can imply a need, it generally carries less urgency compared to "pursue," which denotes more immediate and focused effort.
Is pursuing always positive?
While pursuing something usually has a positive connotation of dedication, it can have negative implications if it leads to obsessive behavior or neglect of other responsibilities.
How does pursue differ from chase?
Pursue implies a strategic and continued effort, whereas chase often suggests a more immediate and frantic effort to catch or reach something.
What is a spiritual seeker?
A spiritual seeker is someone who explores various religious, philosophical, or metaphysical paths to gain a deeper understanding of life and existence.
What does it mean to seek asylum?
Seeking asylum involves requesting protection from another country due to danger in one's home country, such as persecution or war.
What role does technology play in helping people seek and pursue goals?
Technology facilitates both seeking and pursuing by providing tools for research, communication, and tracking progress, thereby making information and opportunities more accessible.
What does it mean to seek a remedy in law?
To seek a remedy in law means to request a legal resolution or compensation for a grievance or injury through the courts.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
