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hot pursuit
noun
: close and avid or intense pursuit
specifically
: close continuous pursuit of a fleeing suspected lawbreaker or hostile military force especially across territorial lines
Examples of hot pursuit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But whether the United States could invoke hot pursuit to chase militants into Syria is a different question altogether.
—Lionel Beehner, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2014
Suddenly, the teen sped up and officers began a hot pursuit onto Interstate 95 from Hallandale Beach Boulevard with lights flashing and sirens blaring.
—Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 15 May 2024
After nearly seven minutes of hot pursuit, the subway crashes, the thug exits and Doyle, following on foot, corners him on the stairs.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2023
In hot pursuit, going after individuals that he’s invited into this country?
—Dallas News, 8 Dec. 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
1743, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near hot pursuit
Cite this Entry
“Hot pursuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20pursuit. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Legal Definition
hot pursuit
noun
hot pur·suit
: the immediate and continuous pursuit by police officers of a fleeing suspect whose possible escape justifies the failure of the officers to obtain a warrant before making an entry, search, seizure, or arrest
More from Merriam-Webster on hot pursuit
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hot pursuit
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hot pursuit
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