Law .

to institute legal proceedings against (a person).

to seek to enforce or obtain by legal process.

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.

Law .

to institute and carry on a legal prosecution.

to act as prosecutor.

verb

exonerate , free , liberate , pardon , cease , halt , stop

verb

arraign , bring suit , bring to trial , contest , do , haul into court , indict , involve in litigation , law , litigate , prefer charges , pull up , put away * , put on docket , put on trial , see in court , seek redress , sue , summon , take to court , try , turn on the heatnotes:persecute means \'to harass or treat unjustly\'; prosecute is \'to bring legal action against\' or \'to pursue something until the end\' , carry on , carry through , conduct , continue , direct , discharge , engage in , execute , follow up , manage , perform , persist , practice , pursue , put through , see through , wage , work atnotes:persecute means \'to harass or treat unjustly\'; prosecute is \'to bring legal action against\' or \'to pursue something until the end\' , accuse , charge , persevere , press