verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈpɹɒsɪkjuːt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:P R AA1 S AH0 K Y UW2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To start criminal proceedings against.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: law
Examples
to prosecute a man for trespass, or for a riot
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To charge, try.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To seek to obtain by legal process.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
to prosecute a right or a claim in a court of law
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To pursue something to the end.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
to prosecute a scheme, hope, or an investigation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She pursued many activities
They engaged in a discussion
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: engage, pursue
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: act, move
Narrower terms: commit, practice, close, politick
6
verb
Meaning 6
bring a criminal action against (in a trial)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The State of California prosecuted O.J. Simpson
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: defend
7
verb
Meaning 7
conduct a prosecution in a court of law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: act, move
History
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin prōsecūtus, perfect participle of prōsequor. Doublet of pursue, from Old French. Compare also persecute.
Across languages
Translations
46 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
起訴 /起诉
(qǐsù)
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Finnish:
nostaa syyte
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
French:
poursuivre en justice
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
German:
strafrechtlich verfolgen
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
German:
gerichtlich belangen
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
German:
belangen
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Japanese:
起訴する
(kiso-suru)
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Māori:
hāmene
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Norman:
poursuivre
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Russian:
пресле́довать
(preslédovatʹ)
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Spanish:
procesar
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Spanish:
enjuiciar
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Spanish:
encausar
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Swedish:
beivra
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Swedish:
åklaga
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Swedish:
åtala
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Swedish:
tilltala
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Turkish:
kovuşturma açmak
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Welsh:
erlyn
— To start civil or criminal proceedings against
Bulgarian:
обвинявам
(obvinjavam)
— To charge, try
Finnish:
syyttää
— To charge, try
German:
anklagen
— To charge, try
German:
bestrafen
— To charge, try
German:
vor Gericht stellen
— To charge, try
Persian:
محاکمه کردن
(mohâkeme kardan)
— To charge, try
Scottish Gaelic:
tagair
— To charge, try
Spanish:
procesar
— To charge, try
Spanish:
enjuiciar
— To charge, try
Spanish:
encausar
— To charge, try
Swedish:
tilltala
— To charge, try
Swedish:
åklaga
— To charge, try
Swedish:
åtala
— To charge, try
Bulgarian:
гоня
(gonja)
— To pursue something to the end
Bulgarian:
преследвам
(presledvam)
— To pursue something to the end
Catalan:
perseguir
— To pursue something to the end
Finnish:
jatkaa loppuun
— To pursue something to the end
Finnish:
tehdä loppuun
— To pursue something to the end
Finnish:
suorittaa loppuun
— To pursue something to the end
German:
betreiben
— To pursue something to the end
German:
verfolgen
— To pursue something to the end
Māori:
makawe
— To pursue something to the end
Persian:
دنبال کردن
(donbâl kardan)
— To pursue something to the end
Spanish:
proseguir
— To pursue something to the end
Spanish:
llevar a cabo
— To pursue something to the end
Spanish:
llevar adelante
— To pursue something to the end
Spanish:
llevar a término
— To pursue something to the end
