perseguir
verbCEFR B2
What does “perseguir” mean in English?
to chase, to pursue
to chase, to pursue (physically); to aim for (a goal — la ley persigue + infinitive)
Example sentences
La normativa persigue garantizar la transparencia en los procesos de contratación pública.
The regulation aims to guarantee transparency in public procurement processes.
El niño persiguió al perro por todo el parque, pero el animal era demasiado rápido.
The child chased the dog all around the park, but the animal was too fast.
Durante años fue perseguido por las autoridades del régimen por su activismo político.
For years he was persecuted by the regime's authorities for his political activism.
How to use it
Perseguir means 'to chase', 'to pursue', or 'to aim for'. At B2, three senses are important: (1) to chase physically (perseguir a un ladrón); (2) to pursue a goal (perseguir un objetivo — pursue a goal); (3) to prosecute/harass (perseguir a un disidente — to persecute a dissident). The goal-pursuit sense (2) is most common in formal, argumentative, and policy writing: 'la ley persigue reducir la desigualdad' (the law aims to reduce inequality). This construction — la ley/el objetivo/la propuesta persigue + infinitive — is a key B2 pattern.
Common mistake
Perseguir un objetivo (pursue a goal) is distinct from alcanzar un objetivo (achieve/reach a goal). Perseguir describes the ongoing pursuit; alcanzar describes achieving it. The construction 'la ley persigue + infinitive' (the law aims to...) is very common in formal Spanish and has no exact English structural equivalent — 'the law seeks to' or 'the law is designed to' are the closest equivalents.