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

Besse said Calderon was arrested and convicted in 2005 for driving drunk, leading police on a chase, and killing another person in the process. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2024

Huizar was also accused of kidnapping Santos’ 1-year-old baby before leading police on a chase. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024

In the film, Sean Connery lead a posse of hapless police on a chase through downtown Las Vegas in a red Mach 1. —Carole Horst, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024

Amid the whirl of crescent kicks, rooftop chases, and snappy dialogue, characters confront addiction, defy prejudice, and deliver justice. —Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024

Days after Nicole and Goldman were found stabbed to death on June 12, 1994, Simpson embarked on a wild police chase while driving a white Ford Bronco — and held a gun to his own head. —Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

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

Verb

His mother remarried and moved across the country to California chasing a better life. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2024

If your fish is getting chased, break them off and give them a chance to get away. —Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 24 Apr. 2024

Over Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department, Swift — perhaps unconsciously — adopts Antonoff’s melodic cadence, this sprawling delivery that runs on like manic thoughts chasing a breakthrough, so tunnel-visioned that there’s no time to go back and edit them down. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2024

The aggressive terns provide protection for neighboring puffins by chasing off predatory gulls. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 22 Apr. 2024

Oxley said that loose trash can go flying when the carts are emptied, and operators don’t have time to chase it down. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024

In the first video of the post, Beckinsale playfully chased a St. Bernard around a workout area while dressed in a black tank top, patterned leggings, black shorts and neon orange trainers. —Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024

The problem that has the potential to upend 2024 has chased Biden across the Great Lakes region. —USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

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

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)