prosecute (C1)
verb
Pronunciation: /ˈprɒsɪkjuːt/
Definition
To officially accuse someone of a crime and try to prove in court that they are guilty.
Examples
The government decided to prosecute the company for environmental pollution.
If you are caught shoplifting, the store may choose to prosecute you.
Lawyers worked for months to gather evidence to prosecute the complex fraud case.
How to Use prosecute
- prosecute someone for something (prepositional phrase)
- To officially charge a person with a crime because they did something specific. — "The authorities decided to prosecute the company for illegally dumping waste."
- prosecute a case (collocation)
- To formally conduct legal proceedings in order to try and prove someone is guilty of a crime. — "The lawyers are prepared to prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law."
Synonyms of prosecute
Words with a similar meaning to prosecute:
Antonyms of prosecute
Words with the opposite meaning to prosecute:
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