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chase

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noun

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as in prey
an animal that is hunted or killed the gazelle is a favorite chase of lions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 viral trend has fueled fiery online debates — with TikToks showing everything from brides dodging cake by bending over backwards to grooms chasing their new wives across the room just to land the smash. Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025 The scare actors will lightly touch you and chase after you. Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Agents arrested Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after a brief foot chase. Scott Bauer, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 Here, one chase in Texas, there, another in North Dakota. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chase
Verb
  • Sports piracy has become so widespread that even professional athletes, like Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (who was spotted using Streameast in May 2024) and Seattle Seahawks' Tariq Woolen, have been outed as users.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The star linebacker then made a spectacle of his final preseason outing with the team.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But Stander and other preservationists are pursuing other avenues and got a boost last month.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The jury saw extensive emails between Donna and Wendi that showed how Donna pushed Wendi to pursue relocation to South Florida at any cost, including offering her ex-husband $1 million and taunting him with the possibility of converting their kids from Judaism to Catholicism.
    Lauren del Valle, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Originally built in 1888 as a hunting lodge for the Austrian imperial family, Grand Hotel Fasano has evolved over the decades from a regal retreat into a gathering place for Europe's creative elite.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Twelve days after Smith fled, authorities received a call that two men had been shot while on a hunting trip near Kiana.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Thousands of residents were evacuated as the flames raced up the Santa Ana Mountains, cresting and driving straight toward the Lake Elsinore area, burning cabins in the Cleveland National Forest’s Holy Jim Canyon and then homes in the El Cariso Village neighborhood.
    Michael Slaten, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025
  • With California poised to become the first state to formally regulate microplastics in consumer products, many brands and retailers are racing to evaluate their value chains in anticipation of significant operational shifts.
    Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cats can become infected by ingesting raw meat or prey that carries the parasite.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
  • However, without strong safeguards, agentic systems can lead to loss of control, resulting in misinterpreted intent, falling prey to fraud, or exposing sensitive data.
    Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Regency-era romantic drama follows the lives of esteemed families of the British high society and their romantic pursuits through the lens of mysterious gossip columnist, Lady Whistledown.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Richard Hughes’ reputation is at an all-time high, given the success of his negotiations with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk last season, allied with his successful pursuits of Wirtz, Isak, Hugo Ekitike, et al.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Despite lacking any legal education or experience, Routh dismissed his lawyers earlier this year and intends to defend himself at trial.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • When retail loses money, it’s often dismissed as inexperience.
    Anmol Verma, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Google Flights’ 2025 Travel Trends pinpoint the exact window for deals, pulling and tracking data from multiple airlines and travel agencies.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The story of the dishwasher tracks well with the general story of technological progress, but only up to a point.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chase. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

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