to follow certain actions to try to achieve something
example
People from many different areas came together to pursue a common goal.
synonyms
go afterseekfollowchase
word origin — Middle English (originally in the sense ‘follow with enmity’): from Anglo-Norman French pursuer, from an alteration of Latin prosequi ‘prosecute’
Upper-Intermediate — Set 24
Set 24 of Upper-Intermediate covers 5 words: pursue, differentiate, resolve, justify, minimize. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
pursue · verb/pərˈsu/
to follow certain actions to try to achieve something
People from many different areas came together to pursue a common goal.
Synonyms: go after, seek, follow, chase
Origin: Middle English (originally in the sense ‘follow with enmity’): from Anglo-Norman French pursuer, from an alteration of Latin prosequi ‘prosecute’
differentiate · verb/ˌdɪfəˈrɛn(t)ʃiˌeɪt/
to be able to tell the differences between two things
It's important to teach children how to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy foods so they can make better dietary choices.
Synonyms: distinguish, discriminate, tell apart
Origin: early 19th century: from medieval Latin differentiat- ‘carried away from’, from the verb differentiare, from differentia (see differentia)
resolve · verb/rəˈzɔlv/
to find a way of dealing with a problem
After hours of discussion, the team was finally able to resolve the issue with the software bug.
Synonyms: solve, find a solution, sort out, work out
Origin: late Middle English (in the senses ‘dissolve, disintegrate’ and ‘solve (a problem)’): from Latin resolvere, from re- (expressing intensive force) + solvere ‘loosen’
justify · verb/ˈdʒəstəˌfaɪ/
to show or prove that something is right or reasonable
It is argued that the police created false evidence to justify his wrongful arrest.
Synonyms: explain, provide a rationale
Origin: Middle English (in the senses ‘administer justice to’ and ‘inflict a judicial penalty on’): from Old French justifier, from Christian Latin justificare ‘do justice to’, from Latin justus (see just)
minimize · verb/ˈmɪnəˌmaɪz/
to decrease something to make it minimum
He taught me some relaxation techniques that I can use to minimize the effects of stress.