Synonyms of chase

chase 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to out

to drive or force out

chased the cat out of the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

• out
• dismiss
• eject
• banish
• expel
• cast out
• kick out
• sack
• evict
• bounce
• run off
• rout
• remove
• extrude
• throw out
• drum (out)
• oust
• turn out
• fire
• boot (out)
• send packing
• turf (out)
• read out
• give one the gate
• shut out
• dispossess
• exile
• can
• deport
• ostracize
• deforce
• retire
• terminate
• expatriate
• pink-slip
• displace
• ax
• muster out
• release
• defenestrate
• discharge
• cashier

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• take
• receive
• accept
• admit
• take in
• welcome
• entertain
• shelter
• house
• harbor
• lodge

2

as in to pursue

to go after or on the track of

a dog that likes to chase cars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pursue
• track
• follow
• escort
• accompany
• trace
• tail
• dog
• course
• run
• watch
• trail
• hound
• hunt
• tag
• run after
• seek
• bird-dog
• shadow
• eye
• observe
• search (for)
• chaperone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lead
• guide
• pilot
• head

3

as in to hunt

to seek out (game) for food or sport

owls often chase mice in the dark

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hunt
• stalk
• trap
• capture
• kill
• pursue
• track
• snare
• drag
• dog
• hound
• trail
• hawk
• course
• shoot
• ferret
• net
• run
• run down
• gun (for)
• cull
• poach
• harpoon
• spoor

4

as in to race

to proceed or move quickly

they chased all over the place to find the missing child

Synonyms & Similar Words

• race
• hurry
• rush
• speed
• scurry
• drive
• travel
• fly
• trot
• jump
• run
• zip
• blow
• scoot
• buzz
• dart
• scuttle
• rip
• shoot
• step
• tear
• blast
• dash
• jog
• career
• blaze
• hare
• whirl
• hustle
• zoom
• ram
• hurl
• course
• bowl
• motor
• jet
• breeze
• rocket
• bolt
• crack (on)
• hasten
• hurtle
• whisk
• hump
• pelt
• rustle
• nip
• gallop
• bundle
• get a move on
• hie
• careen
• beat it
• belt
• barrel
• step on it
• bustle
• highball
• bomb
• make tracks
• flit
• scamper
• shake a leg
• streak
• cannonball
• hotfoot (it)
• sprint
• accelerate
• outrun
• stampede
• overtake
• beetle
• scuffle
• whiz
• step out
• quicken
• outpace
• catch up
• scud
• outstrip
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• crawl
• drag
• poke
• linger
• hang (around or out)
• dawdle
• poke
• lag
• loiter
• stroll
• tarry
• saunter
• amble
• shuffle
• plod
• slow (down or up)
• lumber
• decelerate
• dillydally
• dally

chase

2 of 2

noun

ˈchās 

1

as in prey

an animal that is hunted or killed

the gazelle is a favorite chase of lions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prey
• quarry
• creature
• target
• kill
• game
• victim
• beast
• critter
• brute

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• predator
• hunter
• killer
• murderer
• chaser
• carnivore
• pursuer

2

as in pursuit

the act of going after or in the tracks of another

a high-speed car chase

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pursuit
• chasing
• tracking
• tracing
• search
• trailing
• tailing
• pursuing
• shadowing
• tagging
• following
• hounding
• dogging
• hot pursuit
• track
• trail
• seeking
• path
• tagging along

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

Recent Examples of chase

Verb

Niewiadoma-Phinney then attacked and, although Vollering stood up in her saddle to chase her the new race leader was riding a brilliant tempo and proved too strong. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026

Choreographer Lincoln Jones walked among them, hand to chin, thinking, and at times twirling alone as if chasing whispers. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

My sliders were down for chase, so there was no threat of anything outside of the fastball to be in-zone. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 31 July 2026

That included a tank chase shot largely on a street in Glasgow, Scotland, on the first day of filming, complete with a rig that let an actor swing with explosions going off behind him. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Phrases Containing chase

• chase (down)