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

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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
The video shows the dog chasing the suspect and biting him. —Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025 The result is a property that doesn’t chase trends but sets them. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Noun
But the film’s saving graces include relentless chase scenes, a soaring signature stunt, and one of the series’ most gravity-defying train escapes yet. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 23 May 2025 The hidden clues soon take them on a wild goose chase. —Staff Author Published, EW.com, 22 May 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
  • For years, a mysterious figure who goes by the handle Stern led the Trickbot ransomware gang and evaded identification—even as other members of the group were outed in leaks and unmasked.
    — Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 30 May 2025
  • Eddie's real parentage is revealed, Maeve is outed, Kevin catches up with Rusby, Bella brokers her deal, and Alice attends an awkward Harrigan dinner.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 26 May 2025
Definition of out
Verb
  • Applicants should be interested in pursuing a career in fashion.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 May 2025
  • Trump, eager to broker a peace deal bringing more than three years of full-scale war in Eastern Europe to a close, has become increasingly frustrated with Russian officials refusing to ink an agreement, despite pursuing a general thaw in relations with the Kremlin.
    — Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Definition of pursue
Verb
  • Akasha’s days of hunting for hundreds of gallons of solvent and then searching again for places to dump it were over.
    — Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
  • There have been some conflicting reports as to whether Amazon was hunting for a new unscripted chief with some sources saying that Mike Hopkins, who is head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, was leading the charge.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 22 May 2025
Definition of hunt
Verb
  • Over the past century the price of gold has raced at a 2.2% average annual rate above inflation.
    — William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Greyhounds adjust well to life after racing and thrive in home environments, often forming strong bonds with their owners.
    — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
Definition of race
Noun
  • One familiar example is ash trees, which are prey to the emerald ash borer.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 18 May 2025
  • The caribou that cannot migrate to find good grazing becomes easy prey for the young wolf.
    — Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Definition of prey
Noun
  • In the pursuit of progress, asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
    — ByDr. Marita Kinney, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
  • Deputies began a pursuit of the driver, and Harrison officers assisted by pinning the vehicle, Graddy said.
    — Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
Definition of pursuit
Verb
  • The charges were dismissed because West’s cause of death was not determined, and some evidence had been illegally obtained. (Netflix) Lewis was convicted of six counts of mail fraud in a 1981 credit card scheme in Kansas City.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2025
  • Baldwin — who denied pulling the trigger — was also put on trial for involuntary manslaughter last July, but the case was dismissed after the judge learned that prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 24 May 2025
Definition of dismiss
Verb
  • Two great learning metrics to track are experimentation frequency and occurrences of adaptation.
    — Shazia Manus, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Yet another point in this episode hanging on these professionals behaving in ways that just didn’t track with their actual experience.
    — Jessica M. Goldstein, Vulture, 23 May 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 5 Jun. 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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