chase

IPA/tʃeɪs/
KK[tʃˈes]IPA/tʃeɪs/

chase — verb

  • chasepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • chaseshe / she / it
  • chasedpast simple
  • chasing-ing form

1. To run or move quickly behind a person, animal, or thing because you want to cat

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

To run or move quickly behind a person, animal, or thing because you want to catch them.

Example

Samir heard footsteps behind him and realized someone was chasing him down the dark street.

chase + noun phrase (person being pursued)

The cat chased a mouse across the kitchen floor and under the refrigerator.

chase + noun phrase (animal being pursued)

Common collocations
  • chase a thief
  • chase a suspect
  • chase a ball
  • chase after someone
  • chase through the streets
Synonyms
  • pursue

    more formal and suggests a longer, more determined effort

  • follow

    simply means to go behind, without the urgency or intent to catch

  • run after

    more informal, focuses on the physical running

Antonyms
  • flee

    to run away from someone who is chasing you

  • escape

    to succeed in getting away from someone who is chasing you

Grammar Patterns

chase + noun phrase (object being pursued)

chase after + noun phrase

Usage Note

Transitive: 'chase someone/something'. Often used with 'after' in intransitive patterns: 'chase after someone'.

Common Mistakes

The cat chased after the mouse across the kitchen.' (redundant when direction is clear).
The cat chased the mouse across the kitchen.
Use 'chase after' only when the movement or goal needs emphasis.

2. To move around quickly in many directions, often in a busy or excited way.

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

To move around quickly in many directions, often in a busy or excited way.

Example

Four-year-old Mira and her cousins were chasing around the garden, shrieking with laughter.

chase around + location

Rin chased from room to room gathering her textbooks, gym kit, and lunch before school.

chase from + location + to + location

Common collocations
  • chase around
  • chase about
  • chase through the house
  • chase from one place to another
Synonyms
  • rush

    suggests hurrying with a purpose, while 'chase' in this sense can be playful or aimless

  • dash

    implies a single quick movement rather than repeated running around

Grammar Patterns

chase + (around / about / through / from) + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is almost always followed by a location phrase such as 'around', 'about', 'through', or 'from place to place'. It cannot stand alone without a direction word.

Common Mistakes

The children were chasing.' (no direction — sounds like sense 1).
The children were chasing around the garden.
Always add a direction or location word.

3. To work hard or compete with others in order to get something you want, such as

3.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

To work hard or compete with others in order to get something you want, such as a job, prize, or opportunity.

Example

Thousands of graduates chase the same few jobs in the city every year.

chase + job / position (competitive pursuit)

After years of chasing her dream to become a doctor, Indra finally got into medical school.

Common collocations
  • chase a dream
  • chase success
  • chase a contract
  • chase a deal
  • chase a prize
  • chase an opportunity
Synonyms
  • pursue

    more formal; suggests a longer-term, more serious effort

  • seek

    formal; implies searching for something rather than competing for it

  • strive for

    emphasises the effort more than the competitive aspect

Antonyms
  • abandon

    to give up trying to get something

  • ignore

    to not try to get something that is available

Grammar Patterns

chase + noun phrase (goal/opportunity/dream)

Usage Note

Object is typically an abstract goal (a dream, a prize, success) or a scarce resource (a job, a contract). Frequently used in business and career contexts.

Common Mistakes

I'm chasing a new phone.' (too trivial for this sense).
I'm chasing a promotion at work.
This sense is for goals that require serious effort.

4. To show persistent romantic interest in someone by trying hard to get their atte

4.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

To show persistent romantic interest in someone by trying hard to get their attention or affection.

Example

Dylan chased Iris for months before she finally agreed to go on a date with him.

chase + noun phrase (person being romantically pursued)

In the novel, the hero spends years chasing the woman he loves across Europe.

Common collocations
  • chase a woman
  • chase a man
  • chase after someone
  • chase someone for months/years
Synonyms
  • woo

    old-fashioned; suggests a formal, gentle, and romantic approach

  • court

    old-fashioned; implies a serious intention of marriage or long-term relationship

Grammar Patterns

chase + noun phrase (person)

chase after + noun phrase (person)

Usage Note

Less common in modern usage because it can sound old-fashioned or overly aggressive. Often used in stories about the past or in light-hearted contexts.

Common Mistakes

He chased her until she called the police.' (too aggressive — this sense suggests pursuit with romantic intent, not harassment).
He chased her for weeks before she agreed to coffee.
Use for playful or persistent romantic pursuit, not threats.

5. To follow someone or something in a threatening or aggressive way so that they l

5.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

To follow someone or something in a threatening or aggressive way so that they leave a place.

Example

Ignacio chased the stray dogs away from his vegetable garden with a loud shout.

chase + noun phrase + away from + location

The farmer chased the crows out of his cornfield by waving a bright flag.

chase + noun phrase + out of + location

Common collocations
  • chase away
  • chase off
  • chase out of
  • chase from
  • chase a cat away
  • chase a dog off
Synonyms
  • drive away

    suggests using force or aggressive action; less physical running needed

  • shoo

    informal; using hand gestures or sounds rather than running

Antonyms
  • attract

    to make someone or something come towards you

  • welcome

    to greet someone who arrives and invite them to stay

Grammar Patterns

chase + noun phrase + away / off / out of / from + location

Usage Note

Nearly always used with a direction particle: 'away', 'off', 'out of', or 'from'. The particle is essential to show the result of the chasing.

Common Mistakes

She chased the cat.' (ambiguous — could mean she wanted to catch it or shoo it away).
She chased the cat out of the kitchen.
Add a direction particle to show you are driving it away.
Phrasal verbs

chase up

phrasal verb

To contact someone in order to remind them to do something they have not yet done, or to get information that has not arrived.

I need to chase up the plumber — he promised to fix the pipe three days ago and has not come yet.

Could you chase up those invoices with the accounts department and see why they are late?

Idioms

chase your (own) tail

idiom

To spend a lot of time and energy doing things that keep you busy but do not lead to any real progress or results.

Samir felt like he was chasing his tail all week — he answered emails and went to meetings, but nothing got finished.

The team chased their tails for months trying to fix a computer bug they could not find.

chase — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Chase, pursue, follow, and trail all describe going after someone or something, but they differ in urgency, purpose, and method. Chase implies fast movement with the clear goal of catching someone or something that is trying to get away. A dog chases a cat, and police chase a thief through the streets. Pursue is more formal and suggests a longer, more determined effort over time. A detective pursues a criminal for months by gathering evidence. Follow simply means to go behind someone, without the strong intent to catch them. You can follow a friend home in your car without chasing them. Trail emphasises following traces or evidence rather than a visible person. Hunters trail deer by looking at footprints in the mud. Choose chase for urgent, physical pursuit; pursue for long-term goals; follow for neutral movement behind; and trail for tracking by clues.

chase ↗pursue ↗follow ↗trail ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • give chase
  • chase away
  • chase off
  • car chase
  • police chase

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchAnglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'chase' entered Middle English from Anglo-French 'chacer', meaning 'to hunt' or 'to pursue'. This came from the Latin 'captare', meaning 'to try to catch', which is related to 'capere' ('to take'). The sense of 'romantic pursuit' developed later in the 16th century, and the abstract sense of 'seeking a goal' emerged in the 19th century.

First known use

13th century

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