prosecute

prosecute — verb

1. when a state lawyer brings a criminal case against someone, presenting evidence

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

when a state lawyer brings a criminal case against someone, presenting evidence before a judge to show that the accused person is guilty of breaking the law

Example

The government decided to prosecute the company for dumping waste in the river.

prosecute + [organisation] + for + crime/offence

Zayd was prosecuted for fraud and sentenced to four years in prison.

passive: be prosecuted for [crime]

Common collocations
  • prosecute a case
  • prosecute someone for fraud / theft / murder
  • prosecute a suspect
  • prosecute an offender
Synonyms
  • charge

    the first formal step — telling someone which crime they are accused of; narrower than 'prosecute'

  • indict

    used when a grand jury formally decides to charge someone with a serious crime; more specific and formal

  • sue

    used for civil cases (disagreements over money, property, etc.), not criminal; brought by individuals or companies, not the state

Antonyms
  • acquit

    the court finds the accused not guilty — opposite outcome of a prosecution

  • defend

    the role of the lawyer on the other side in court

Grammar Patterns

prosecute + person/organisation + for + crime

be + prosecuted + for + crime

prosecute + a case

Usage Note

Common patterns: 'prosecute someone for something' and passive 'be prosecuted for something.' Note that 'prosecute' is used for criminal cases brought by the state, not for civil disputes — for civil cases, the correct verb is 'sue.' A person cannot 'prosecute' someone directly; only the state (a prosecutor) can.

Common Mistakes

I will prosecute you if you don't pay back the money.
I will sue you if you don't pay back the money.
'Prosecute' is for criminal cases brought by the state; 'sue' is for civil disputes between individuals or companies.
The police prosecuted him for stealing a car.
The police arrested him, and he was prosecuted for stealing a car.
The police arrest and charge; the prosecutor (state lawyer) prosecutes in court.

2. to continue carrying out a planned series of actions, such as a military campaig

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to continue carrying out a planned series of actions, such as a military campaign or a formal investigation, until it is completed

Example

The general vowed to prosecute the war until the enemy agreed to surrender.

prosecute a war (formal, military context)

Ignacio's unit continued to prosecute the investigation even after the lead detective retired.

prosecute an investigation

Common collocations
  • prosecute a war
  • prosecute a campaign
  • prosecute an investigation
  • prosecute an inquiry
  • prosecute a search
Synonyms
  • pursue

    wider in scope — can be any goal or activity, not necessarily planned or large-scale; less formal

  • wage

    narrower — used almost exclusively for war or conflict (e.g. 'wage war')

  • conduct

    similar level of formality, but slightly wider in usage (e.g. 'conduct a meeting,' 'conduct research')

  • carry out

    less formal and much more common in everyday English; a good general substitute

Antonyms
  • abandon

    to stop a planned activity before it is finished

  • discontinue

    formal term for stopping an activity or process

Grammar Patterns

prosecute + a war / campaign / investigation / inquiry

Usage Note

Frequently used in official contexts such as government statements, military reports, and formal business language. The object is always a large-scale, planned activity (war, campaign, investigation, inquiry, search). This sense is not used for everyday tasks or casual activities.

Common Mistakes

The team prosecuted the project on schedule.
The team carried out the project on schedule.
'Prosecute' in this sense is too formal for ordinary project work; use 'carry out,' 'conduct,' or 'run.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four terms all relate to legal action, but they differ in who acts and at what stage. 'Charge' is the first formal step — the police or a prosecutor tells someone which specific crime they are accused of, often right after arrest. 'Indict' is narrower and more serious: a grand jury (a group of citizens) examines the evidence and decides that a person should be formally charged with a serious crime such as murder or fraud. 'Prosecute' covers the entire court process after a charge is made — the state prosecutor tries to prove the person's guilt before a judge or jury. In contrast, 'sue' belongs to civil law: a person or company takes another to court over a disagreement, usually asking for money or action rather than punishment. A quick comparison: the police charge someone with theft; a grand jury indicts someone for fraud; the state prosecutes someone for murder; and a neighbour sues someone for damage to their property.

charge ↗indictsue ↗prosecute ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • successfully prosecute
  • vigorously prosecute
  • fully prosecute

Prepositions

  • prosecute for (a crime)
  • prosecute under (a law)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'prosecutus,' meaning 'followed after' or 'pursued' — formed from 'pro-' (forward) and 'sequi' (to follow). The word came into English through legal French in the 1400s, first used for 'pursuing a claim in court.' The second meaning — carrying out a war or investigation — stayed closer to the original Latin sense of 'following through to completion.'