prosecute

UK: /ˈprɒsɪkjuːt/ US: /ˈprɑsɪˌkjut/ ,(pros′i kyo̅o̅t′)

Inflections of 'prosecute' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

prosecutes

v 3rd person singular

prosecuting

v pres p

prosecuted

v past

prosecuted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•e•cute /ˈprɑsɪˌkyut/   v., -cut•ed, -cut•ing. 

1. Law to begin or conduct legal proceedings against (a person), as with a criminal charge in a court of law: [~ + object]
   prosecuted his client for murder.
   [no object]
   They decided not to prosecute.
2. to follow up or carry forward (something begun), usually to completion:
   [~ + object] He vowed to prosecute the war to its end.

See -seq-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pros•e•cute  (pros′i kyo̅o̅t′), v., -cut•ed, -cut•ing. 
v.t. 

1. Law
   • to institute legal proceedings against (a person).
   • to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.
   • to conduct criminal proceedings in court against.
2. to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion:
   to prosecute a war.
3. to carry on or practice.

v.i. 

4. Law
   • to institute and carry on a legal prosecution.
   • to act as prosecutor.

• Latin prōsecūtus, past participle of prōsequī to pursue, proceed with, equivalent. to prō- pro-¹ + secū-, variant stem of sequī to follow + -tus past participle suffix
• late Middle English prosecuten to follow up, go on with 1400–50

pros′e•cut′a•ble, adj. 
pros′e•cut′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
Synonyms

• 3. perform, discharge, execute, conduct.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prosecute / ˈprɒsɪˌkjuːt/ verb

1. (transitive) to bring a criminal action against (a person) for some offence
2. (intransitive) to seek redress by legal proceedings
3. to institute or conduct a prosecution
4. (transitive) to engage in or practise (a profession or trade)
5. (transitive) to continue to do (a task, etc)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin prōsequī to follow, from prō- forward + sequī to follow

ˈproseˌcutable adjective