chase

1 of 2

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

2 of 2

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

Synonyms of chase

Verb (1)

• out
• dismiss
• eject
• banish

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

Verb (1)

chased the cat out of the garden

a dog that likes to chase cars

owls often chase mice in the dark

they chased all over the place to find the missing child

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

And she’s taken a spot in the stands alongside their parents, who have spent years chasing their youngest children around the country to make sure at least one parent attends each pro or college game. —Idaho Statesman, 8 June 2026

The sheriff’s office said the Barbourville police officer chased the red Chevy Cobalt until the officer tried to box the vehicle in with a maneuver, resulting in the Chevy striking another vehicle and coming to a stop. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

Now homeowners are chasing that same effect with HVAC scent diffusers — devices that hook into a home’s heating and cooling system to push fragrance through every room at once. —Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026

Surveillance video shows Schmidt chasing after them, asking for his phone back. —Joe Holden, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Verb (1)

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

Verb (2)

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

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

Rhymes for chase

• ace
• base
• brace
• case
• chace
• dace
• face
• grace
• lace
• mace
• pace
• place

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