ultimate pursuit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ultimate pursuit" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe someone's deepest or most important ambition. For example, "He dreamed of becoming a famous musician, and devoted his life to that ultimate pursuit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Obtaining an understanding of the microfoundations of how this occurs is the ultimate pursuit.

The Economist

The Giants have played along, happy to have attention deflected from their ultimate pursuit.

The New York Times - Sports

Love is the ultimate pursuit and Dinner Date consistently proves itself to be the most ineffective method of finding it.

Vice

A set of thorough analysis and debates based on these findings, might help us in our ultimate pursuit to understand proteins better.

Plosone

It is hoped that our students, by starting research at an earlier age, will develop an interest in the sciences that will guide their ultimate pursuit of a STEM career.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

These days, Levine is willing to sacrifice ultimate beauty in pursuit of a dramatic interplay of voices.

The New Yorker

I recently did a full roundup of four notebooks that were less than $1,000 and all were running Vista Home Premium, which is the step-down from the Ultimate Edition the Pursuit is running on.

TechCrunch

Comparing with traditional PEC photoanode for water splitting, it requires the photoanode providing a suitable cathodic potential for the metal, instead of pursuit ultimate photon to electric conversion efficiency, thus it is a more possible PEC technology for engineering application.

Green Energy & Environment

Given how many of their colleagues have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of truth, any "journalist" who gives an easy ride to a group of kids risking innocent lives "for the lulz", just because they're scared of having their Amazon account hacked or receiving a barrage of late night pizza deliveries, might want to consider an urgent change of career.

TechCrunch

Pianists may have sacrificed something vital in their pursuit of ultimate refinement.

The New Yorker

The trichotomy of man, his universe, and its pursuit of ultimate harmony in terms of yin-yang theory was derived mainly from Neo-Confucianism.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ultimate pursuit" when you want to emphasize the single most important aim or goal someone is striving for, especially if it involves a significant amount of dedication and effort.

Common error

Avoid using "ultimate pursuit" for trivial or easily achievable goals. The term suggests a profound and all-consuming ambition, so using it inappropriately can diminish its impact and sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimate pursuit" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a sentence or prepositional phrase. It designates a deeply important ambition or goal that someone dedicates themselves to achieving, consistent with the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ultimate pursuit" is a noun phrase used to describe a deeply held and significant ambition. While grammatically correct, its frequency is rare, primarily appearing in news and media and scientific contexts. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is used to emphasize the importance and intensity of a goal, suitable for formal and informal communication. When employing this phrase, ensure the goal is truly significant, avoiding its application to trivial matters to maintain its intended impact. Remember that alternatives like "primary objective" or "chief ambition" may better suit certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ultimate objective

Replaces 'pursuit' with 'objective', focusing on the target rather than the process.

primary objective

Focuses on the main aim or goal, omitting the sense of striving or effort.

chief ambition

Highlights the aspirational aspect, suggesting a strong desire for achievement.

main aspiration

Emphasizes a hope or dream that one strives to achieve.

final ambition

Indicates the last goal someone wants to achieve in their life.

grand ambition

Suggests a large or impressive goal.

overriding ambition

Signifies a goal that is more important than anything else.

greatest endeavor

Replaces "pursuit" with "endeavor" which underscores the effort and struggle involved in achieving something.

primary quest

Emphasizes a long or difficult search or journey to achieve something.

essential goal

Stresses that the goal is critical and necessary.

FAQs

How can I use "ultimate pursuit" in a sentence?

You can use "ultimate pursuit" to describe someone's most important goal or ambition, such as, "Her "ultimate pursuit" is to become a renowned surgeon".

What are some alternatives to "ultimate pursuit"?

Alternatives to "ultimate pursuit" include "primary objective", "chief ambition", or "main aspiration", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "ultimate pursuit" formal or informal?

"Ultimate pursuit" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more often found in formal writing or speech.

What makes "ultimate pursuit" different from "a goal"?

"Ultimate pursuit" implies a deeply held and significant ambition that requires considerable effort and dedication, whereas "a goal" can refer to any objective, regardless of its importance or difficulty.