Pursue vs. Continue — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 25, 2024
Pursue implies actively chasing a goal with determination, while continue means to maintain the course of an action without interruption.
Difference Between Pursue and Continue
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pursue typically involves a targeted effort to achieve something specific, such as a career, a dream, or a significant goal, which often requires initiative and ambition. On the other hand, continue simply means to keep doing what one is already doing, emphasizing consistency rather than the pursuit of a new objective.
In pursue, there is a connotation of striving and seeking, often with a sense of urgency or passion. Whereas, continue lacks this connotation, suggesting a more passive action where the current state or activity is maintained over time without change.
Pursue often implies a beginning or a shift towards a new aim, where an individual or group starts to follow a path with the intention to reach a specific outcome. In contrast, continue indicates that the path is already being followed, and the action is to keep on that path.
The term pursue is generally used when there is an obstacle or resistance that needs to be overcome, which requires effort and determination. Meanwhile, continue does not inherently involve overcoming challenges; it more so implies a steady progression.
While pursue is dynamic and suggests a change in activity or goals, continue is static, focusing on the ongoing process without deviation from the current state.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Active, goal-oriented
Passive, steady
Focus
Achieving new goals
Maintaining current state
Effort
Requires initiative and effort
Requires consistency
Usage Context
Often used with careers, dreams
Common in ongoing processes
Implication
Implies starting or intensifying
Implies no change in direction
Compare with Definitions
Pursue
To follow or chase with the intent to capture.
The detective decided to pursue the suspect across several states.
Continue
To maintain without interruption.
The meeting will continue after a short break.
Pursue
To continue or proceed along a path.
The hikers will pursue the trail despite the bad weather.
Continue
To remain in a place or condition.
He will continue in his current role as manager.
Pursue
To seek to attain or accomplish a goal.
He will pursue his ambition to become a musician.
Continue
To extend in a particular direction.
The road continues for several miles through the forest.
Pursue
To engage in an activity or course of action.
She chose to pursue a degree in biology.
Continue
To resume an action after a pause.
The players will continue the game after the weather clears.
Pursue
To court or woo romantically.
In the novel, the protagonist pursues his love interest passionately.
Continue
To persist in an activity or process.
She decided to continue her studies at a more advanced level.
Pursue
Follow or chase (someone or something)
A heavily indebted businessman was being pursued by creditors
The officer pursued the van
Continue
To go on with a particular action or in a particular condition; persist
We continued until the job was finished.
Pursue
Continue or proceed along (a path or route)
The road pursued a straight course over the scrubland
Continue
To exist over a period; last
The meeting continued for another hour.
Pursue
To follow in an effort to overtake or capture; chase
A fox that was pursued by hounds.
Continue
To remain in the same state, capacity, or place
She continued as mayor for a second term.
Pursue
To strive to gain or accomplish
Pursue lofty political goals.
Continue
To go on after an interruption; resume
The negotiations continued after a break for dinner.
Pursue
To proceed along the course of; follow
A ship that pursued the southern course.
Continue
To extend in a given direction
The stream continues for another five miles before it reaches the lake.
Pursue
To carry further; advance
Let's not pursue this argument.
Continue
To carry on; persist in
The police will continue their investigation. I continued reading all afternoon.
Pursue
To take action regarding (something), especially with the intention of sustained effort
A detective who pursued each lead.
Continue
To carry further in time, space, or development; extend
The builder will continue the road right through the swamp.
Pursue
To engage in (a vocation or hobby, for example); practice.
Continue
To cause to remain or last; retain or maintain
Are you continuing the prescription? The team continued its dominance over its opponents.
Pursue
To try to have a romantic relationship with
A lady who was pursued by many suitors.
Continue
To carry on after an interruption; resume
After a break for lunch, we continued our hike.
Pursue
To continue to torment or afflict; haunt
Was pursued by the demons of lust and greed.
Continue
(Law) To postpone or adjourn.
Pursue
To follow in an effort to overtake or capture; chase.
Continue
(transitive) To proceed with doing an activity; to prolong an activity.
Shall I continue speaking, or will you just interrupt me again?
Do you want me to continue to unload these?
Pursue
To take action regarding something or carry on an established activity or project.
Continue
(transitive) To make last; to prolong.
Pursue
(ambitransitive) To follow urgently, originally with intent to capture or harm; to chase.
Pursue one's dreams
Continue
(transitive) To retain someone or something in a given state, position, etc.
Pursue
(transitive) To follow, travel down (a particular way, course of action etc.).
Her rival pursued a quite different course.
Continue
To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Pursue
(transitive) To aim for, go after (a specified objective, situation etc.).
Continue
(intransitive) To resume.
When will the concert continue?
Pursue
(transitive) To participate in (an activity, business etc.); to practise, follow (a profession).
Continue
To adjourn, prorogue, put off.
This meeting has been continued to the thirteenth of July.
Pursue
(intransitive) To act as a legal prosecutor.
Continue
(poker slang) To make a continuation bet.
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.
Continue
(video games) An option allowing the player to resume play after game over, when all lives have been lost, while retaining their progress.
Pursue
To seek; to use or adopt measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.
The fame of ancient matrons you pursue.
Continue
To remain in a given place or condition; to remain in connection with; to abide; to stay.
Here to continue, and build up hereA growing empire.
They continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.
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.
Continue
To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue.
Pursue
To prosecute; to be engaged in; to continue.
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.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
Pursue
To follow as an example; to imitate.
Continue
To unite; to connect.
The use of the navel is to continue the infant unto the mother.
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.
Continue
To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to cease not.
O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee.
You know how to make yourself happy by only continuing such a life as you have been long accustomed to lead.
Pursue
To go in pursuit; to follow.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth.
Men hotly pursued after the objects of their ambition.
Continue
To carry onward or extend; to prolong or produce; to add to or draw out in length.
A bridge of wond'rous length,From hell continued, reaching th' utmost orbof this frail world.
Pursue
To go on; to proceed, especially in argument or discourse; to continue.
I have, pursues Carneades, wondered chemists should not consider.
Continue
To retain; to suffer or cause to remain; as, the trustees were continued; also, to suffer to live.
And how shall we continue Claudio.
Pursue
To follow a matter judicially, as a complaining party; to act as a prosecutor.
Continue
Continue a certain state, condition, or activity;
Keep on working!
We continued to work into the night
Keep smiling
We went on working until well past midnight
Pursue
Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in;
She pursued many activities
They engaged in a discussion
Continue
Continue with one's activities;
I know it's hard,
But there is no choice
Carry on--pretend we are not in the room
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
Continue
Keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last;
Preserve the peace in the family
Continue the family tradition
Carry on the old traditions
Pursue
Go in search of or hunt for;
Pursue a hobby
Continue
Move ahead; travel onward in time or space;
We proceeded towards Washington
She continued in the direction of the hills
We are moving ahead in time now
Pursue
Carry further or advance;
Can you act on this matter soon?
Continue
Allow to remain in a place or position;
We cannot continue several servants any longer
She retains a lawyer
The family's fortune waned and they could not keep their household staff
Our grant has run out and we cannot keep you on
We kept the work going as long as we could
Continue
Carry forward;
We continued our research into the cause of the illness
Continue
Continue after an interruption;
The demonstration continued after a break for lunch
Continue
Continue in a place, position, or situation;
After graduation, she stayed on in Cambridge as a student adviser
Stay with me, please
Despite student protests, he remained Dean for another year
She continued as deputy mayor for another year
Continue
Exist over a prolonged period of time;
The bad weather continued for two more weeks
Common Curiosities
What emotions are commonly associated with the word pursue?
Pursue often evokes emotions such as ambition, determination, and passion, as it implies a strong effort to achieve something specific.
Can continue be used in a legal context?
Yes, continue can be used in legal contexts to refer to the extension of court proceedings or the ongoing application of laws.
What does it mean to continue a tradition?
To continue a tradition means to keep it alive or uphold it over time, ensuring that it is carried forward from one generation to the next.
How does pursue relate to career advancement?
In career contexts, to pursue often means to actively seek advancement or opportunities, such as pursuing a promotion or a new job opportunity.
Is it appropriate to use pursue in romantic contexts?
Yes, pursue is often used in romantic contexts to describe actively seeking someone's affection or relationship.
How does pursue change the tone of a sentence?
The word pursue can add a tone of determination or intentionality, making the sentence more dynamic and focused on goal achievement.
Can pursue have a negative connotation?
Yes, pursue can have a negative connotation if it involves pursuing something harmful or unethical, such as pursuing illegal activities.
How does continue interact with time in a sentence?
Continue typically interacts with time by implying an extension into the future or resumption after a pause, emphasizing the duration of an action.
Can someone pursue something passively?
Typically, pursue involves active effort; passively pursuing something would be somewhat contradictory to the standard use of the term.
What might be a reason to continue an action even if it is difficult?
Reasons to continue a difficult action could include commitment to goals, moral obligations, or the belief that the eventual benefits outweigh the current challenges.
Is continue a verb that implies any urgency?
No, continue does not imply urgency; it suggests a calm, steady progression without sudden changes or new actions.
Is it common to use pursue in academic contexts?
Yes, it is common to use pursue in academic contexts, such as pursuing a degree, a field of study, or academic research.
Can continue be used to indicate reluctance?
Yes, continue can sometimes indicate reluctance, especially when someone keeps doing something out of necessity rather than desire.
What does it imply if a business decides to continue its current strategy?
If a business decides to continue its current strategy, it implies satisfaction with current results and a belief in the effectiveness of the ongoing approach.
How do pursue and continue differ in terms of end goals?
Pursue is often goal-oriented with a clear end in sight, whereas continue may not have a definitive end goal but rather focuses on the process or maintenance of status.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited 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.
