chase 1 of 2

verb

Definition of chasenext
1
as in to out
to drive or force out chased the cat out of the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pursue
to go after or on the track of a dog that likes to chase cars

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to hunt
to seek out (game) for food or sport owls often chase mice in the dark

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to race
to proceed or move quickly they chased all over the place to find the missing child

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

chase

2 of 2

noun

ˈchās How to pronounce chase (audio)
1
as in prey
an animal that is hunted or killed the gazelle is a favorite chase of lions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pursuit
the act of going after or in the tracks of another a high-speed car chase

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word chase distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of chase are follow, pursue, and trail. While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

When could follow be used to replace chase?

The words follow and chase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

When is it sensible to use pursue instead of chase?

While the synonyms pursue and chase are close in meaning, pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

When can trail be used instead of chase?

The synonyms trail and chase are sometimes interchangeable, but trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer
trailed a suspect across the country

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of chase
Verb
Bartlett ran up his pitch count and chased him after four innings. —Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025 The track arrives alongside a video, directed by Eli Schmitt, in which the band members get chased by a dog, tumble into the Chicago River, and more. —Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
In the meantime, Fudd and the Huskies remain focused on this year’s title chase with No. 2-seed UConn set to face No. 3-seed Oklahoma in a Sweet 16 game on Saturday. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2025 The car crashed into an SUV uninvolved with the chase, killing a passenger in the SUV and injuring both drivers. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chase
  1. out
  2. pursue
  3. hunt
  4. race
  5. prey
  6. pursuit
  7. dismiss
  8. track
Verb
  • The sudden change reportedly outed multiple students who are transgender or have legal name changes.
    — Andrew King, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Lifestyle gurus of all types (none outed as serial killers to date) closely document their rise-and-grind rituals, encouraging followers to seize the day with healthy and intentional choices.
    — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of out
Verb
  • But the Trump administration has repeatedly criticized foreign aid as wasteful and accused agencies like USAID of pursuing political agendas.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Adams insisted the case was politically motivated and was pursued in retaliation for his criticism of President Joe Biden's immigration policies.
    — Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of pursue
Verb
  • Carlton, 32, was remembered in an online death notice as a devoted husband, a father of two girls, active in his Baptist church, and a person who enjoyed trail riding on horseback and bird hunting with his two dogs.
    — Susan Miller, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Since then, the Claytons have used the land to hunt, camp and view wildlife.
    — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of hunt
Verb
  • And while some characters will be navigating the hierarchy and rules of high school, others will be racing from a dark past.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Other notable names will be racing alongside McLaughlin-Levrone, such as Dalilah Muhammad, the former world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles.
    — Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of race
Noun
  • The artifacts, researchers say, could help shed light on the complex ways in which ancient humans hunted for their prey and fixed their broken belongings.
    — Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This seems to have surprised many who assessed his rhetoric as just more hype likely to fall prey to the same institutional constraints and poor execution that hampered Trump in his first term.
    — Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of prey
Noun
  • The mind subconsciously shifts from pursuit to prevention.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Smith, who ran her own pet grooming business, devoted herself entirely to Piper’s pageant pursuits.
    — Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of pursuit
Verb
  • In film school, games and anime aren’t celebrated, they’re dismissed.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The company filed two motions to dismiss the case, one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • From there, New York City sleuths tracked the cord brand to a local wholesaler, who had records of selling a quantity of it to a Manhattan upholsterer the day before the murder.
    — Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Guido Vianello Fight Card Results Microsoft Warns 240 Million Windows Users—Stop Using Your PC ‘NYT Mini’ Clues And Answers For Saturday, April 5 Price-Fundamentals Gap JPMorgan analysts have been tracking Tesla’s price-fundamentals gap for over a decade.
    — Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of track

Phrases Containing chase

Browse Nearby Words

chary
chase
chased
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Cite this Entry

“Chase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chase. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chase

Nglish: Translation of chase for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chase

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