Prosecute is generally found today in a legal context (“to bring legal action against for redress or punishment of a crime or violation of law”), although the word may also be used to mean “to …

PROSECUTE meaning: 1. to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a law court, or (of a lawyer) to try to…. Learn more.

to conduct criminal proceedings in court against. to follow up or carry forward something undertaken or begun, usually to its completion. to prosecute a war. to carry on or practice. …

If the authorities prosecute someone, they charge them with a crime and put them on trial. The police decided not to prosecute them.

To initiate or conduct (a civil case or legal action): prosecute a lawsuit for libel. c. To initiate or conduct legal proceedings regarding (an offense, for example): prosecute drug possession. 2. …

Definition of prosecute verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

prosecute, v. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

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.

A prosecutor is a legal representative of the prosecution in states with either the adversarial system, which is adopted in common law, or inquisitorial system, which is adopted in civil law. …

Dec 26, 2025 · prosecute (third-person singular simple present prosecutes, present participle prosecuting, simple past and past participle prosecuted) (transitive, law) To start criminal …