chase

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈchās 

1

a

: the hunting of wild animals

—used with the

b

: the act of chasing : pursuit

The police caught the robbers after a high-speed chase on the highway.

c

: an earnest or frenzied seeking after something desired

this mad chase of fame

—John Dryden

2

: something pursued : quarry

A fox was the hunter's chase.

3

: a tract of unenclosed land used as a game preserve

4

: steeplechase sense 1

observed the chase with binoculars

5

: a sequence (as in a movie) in which the characters pursue one another

The movie's chases involved cars and helicopters.

chase

2 of 5

verb (1)

chased; chasing

transitive verb

1

a

: to follow rapidly : pursue

a dog chasing a rabbit

b

: hunt

c

: to follow regularly or persistently with the intention of attracting or alluring

He was always chasing after women.

2

obsolete : harass

3

: to seek out

—often used with down

detectives chasing down clues

4

: to cause to depart or flee : drive

chase the dog out of the garden

5

: to cause the removal of (a baseball pitcher) by a batting rally

6

: to swing at (a baseball pitched out of the strike zone)

intransitive verb

1

: to chase an animal, person, or thing

chase after material possessions

2

: rush, hasten

chased all over town looking for a place to stay

chase

3 of 5

verb (2)

chased; chasing

transitive verb

1

a

: to ornament (metal) by indenting with a hammer and tools without a cutting edge

b

: to make by such indentation

c

: to set with gems

2

a

: groove, indent

b

: to cut (a thread) with a chaser

chase

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

: groove, furrow

2

: the bore of a cannon

3

a

: trench

b

: a channel (as in a wall) for something to lie in or pass through

chase

5 of 5

noun (3)

: a rectangular steel or iron frame in which letterpress matter is locked (as for printing)

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• prey
• quarry

Verb (1)

• banish
• boot (out)
• bounce
• cast out
• dismiss
• drum (out)
• eject
• expel
• extrude
• kick out
• oust
• out
• rout
• run off
• throw out
• turf (out) [chiefly British]
• turn out

Choose the Right Synonym for chase

chase, pursue, follow, trail 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

pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer

trailed a suspect across the country

Examples of chase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During the chase, police deployed spike strips, flattening the tires on the SUV. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2024

The gun Simpson clutched during his infamous white Bronco chase was registered to then-LAPD Lt. Earl Paysinger, who worked security for the owner of the Los Angeles Raiders and would go on to become assistant chief. —Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

These two n-s that I’ve just been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase — chase their greatness, right? —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024

Taylor Wilson: How did OJ's chase, Marco, the trial and really all of this drama surrounding him in the '90s, act as a precursor to some of the tensions related to policing in communities of color in the years since? —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Simpson’s most famous run in Los Angeles — before the white Ford Bronco chase — decided 1967’s biggest college football game, No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 4 USC. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024

After a low-speed chase that entranced the nation, O.J. was arrested in connection to the murders and his subsequent trial created a media circus that sparked intense debate. —Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

That’s the date Contra Costa Sheriff’s deputies arrested 45-year-old Robert Brown and seized two cellphones from his Corvette after a police chase in Bay Point. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

Minor incident blows up Crudup’s arrest on a warm July evening three years ago began with a minor altercation that ballooned into an all-out chase by dozens of cops and the eventual videotaped beat-down of the Maryland man. —Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Verb

In the second quarter, while rolling right and being chased, Ward connected with Restrepo on a long pass down the right sideline. —Susan Miller Degnan, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2024

These two n-s that I’ve just been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase — chase their greatness, right? —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024

Crowd favorite Fowler, 35, is still chasing his first major title after a string of runner-up finishes, including missing out by just one stroke to American compatriot Patrick Reed at Augusta National in 2019. —Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024

Plenty other Black athletes across the years chased TV and film roles — Sugar Ray Robinson, Bernie Casey and Woody Strode among them. —Wil Haygood, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024

Fortunately, being the three musicians who popularized a sound that so many others are chasing is not the same thing as chasing that sound yourself. —Ryan Bradley MacLeod Andrews Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

As the deputies chased the fleeing vehicle, police said the driver twice fired a handgun in their direction. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

Advertisement The 10-year-old daughter said that her mother would beat her with the leg of a chair and that her maternal grandmother would do the same, chasing the children around the house to hit them with it, according to the statement by therapist Patricia Ramsey. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024

Halfway through the video, the tables turned and Joanna was then chased by Crew, who ended up tripping, falling and losing his pants. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French chace, from chacer — see chase entry 2

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French chacer, from Vulgar Latin *captiare — more at catch

Verb (2)

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French enchaser to set

Noun (2)

French chas eye of a needle, from Late Latin capsus enclosed space, alteration of Latin capsa box — more at case

Noun (3)

probably from French châsse frame, reliquary, from Middle French chasse, from Latin capsa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1612, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chase

• chase down
• chase up
• cut to the chase
• give chase
• give chase to
• lead (someone) a merry chase
• stern chase
• wild goose chase

Kids Definition

chase

1 of 3 noun

ˈchās 

1

a

: the hunting of animals

—used with the

b

: the act of chasing : pursuit

saw the thief and gave chase

2

: something pursued

3

: a scene (as in a movie) where the characters chase one another

chase

2 of 3 verb

chased; chasing

1

: to follow in order to capture or overtake

chase a thief

chase the bus

2

: hunt entry 1 sense 1

chase the fox

3

: to drive away or out

chase a dog off the lawn

chaser noun

chase

3 of 3 verb

chased; chasing

: to decorate (metal) by indenting with a hammer and tools without cutting edges

Biographical Definition

Chase 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈchās 

Mary Ellen 1887–1973 American educator and author

Chase

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

Sal*mon ˈsa-mən 

ˈsal-

Portland 1808–1873 American statesman; chief justice U.S. Supreme Court (1864–73)