Have you ever run after a bus because you were almost late? You were chasing the bus! The word chase is common, but sometimes another word can make your sentence clearer and more interesting.
Chase means to run after someone or something to catch it. It can also mean trying hard to get something you want. For example, a police officer may chase a thief, while a student may chase a dream of getting good grades.
Learning synonyms for chase is useful for students who want stronger vocabulary in essays. Bloggers and content writers can use different words to avoid repetition. Daily English users can also use these words in stories and conversations. In this guide, you will learn 25 useful chase synonyms with simple meanings and examples.
Quick Answer
Common synonyms for chase include pursue, follow, run after, hunt, track, trail, pursue, race after, seek, hound, shadow, tail, go after, stalk, run down, follow up, chase after, drive, pursue, and search for.
Parts of Speech
| Word | Part of Speech | Simple Meaning |
| Chase | Verb / Noun | To run after someone or something |
| Pursue | Verb | To follow and try to catch |
| Follow | Verb | To go after someone or something |
| Hunt | Verb / Noun | To search for or chase something |
| Track | Verb / Noun | To follow signs or movements |
| Trail | Verb / Noun | To follow behind someone |
| Race | Verb / Noun | To move very fast to reach something |
| Seek | Verb | To try to find or get something |
| Hound | Verb / Noun | To keep following or bothering someone |
| Shadow | Verb / Noun | To follow someone closely |
| Tail | Verb / Noun | To follow someone secretly |
| Pursuit | Noun | The act of chasing someone |
| Search | Verb / Noun | To look for someone or something |
| Go after | Phrasal Verb | To try to catch or get something |
| Run after | Phrasal Verb | To run behind someone or something |
| Stalk | Verb | To follow someone closely and quietly |
| Run down | Phrasal Verb | To catch someone or something |
| Follow up | Phrasal Verb | To continue trying to get information or results |
| Track down | Phrasal Verb | To find someone or something after searching |
| Go in pursuit of | Phrase | To go after someone or something |
| Race after | Phrase | To move quickly after something |
| Search for | Phrase | To try to find something |
| Strive for | Verb Phrase | To work hard to achieve something |
| Seek out | Phrasal Verb | To actively look for something |
| Aim for | Verb Phrase | To try to reach or achieve something |
1. Pursue
Meaning:
To pursue means to follow someone or something and try to catch it.
Examples:
- The police pursued the stolen car.
- She pursued her dream of becoming a writer.
2. Follow
Meaning:
To follow means to go behind someone or something.
Examples:
- The dog followed the boy home.
- Please follow the bus until the next stop.
3. Hunt
Meaning:
To hunt means to search for or chase a person or animal.
Examples:
- The cat hunted a small mouse.
- They went into the forest to hunt deer.
4. Track
Meaning:
To track means to follow signs to find someone or something.
Examples:
- The police tracked the suspect.
- We tracked the lost dog through the park.
5. Trail
Meaning:
To trail means to follow someone or something closely.
Examples:
- The reporter trailed the famous actor.
- The little boy trailed behind his father.
6. Race
Meaning:
To race means to move very fast to reach someone or something.
Examples:
- She raced after the departing train.
- The children raced across the field.
7. Seek
Meaning:
To seek means to try to find or get something.
Examples:
- He is seeking a better job.
- Many people seek success in life.
8. Hound
Meaning:
To hound means to keep following or bothering someone.
Examples:
- Reporters hounded the actor for answers.
- The fans hounded him for an autograph.
9. Shadow
Meaning:
To shadow means to follow someone very closely.
Examples:
- The detective shadowed the suspect.
- The child shadowed her mother around the house.
10. Tail
Meaning:
To tail means to follow someone secretly.
Examples:
- The detective tailed the man.
- Someone was tailing us on the highway.
11. Pursuit
Meaning:
Pursuit is the act of chasing someone or something.
Examples:
- The car sped away during the pursuit.
- The police began a pursuit of the suspect.
12. Search
Meaning:
To search means to look carefully for someone or something.
Examples:
- We searched the park for the missing keys.
- The team searched for the lost child.
13. Go After
Meaning:
To go after means to try to catch, get, or achieve something.
Examples:
- She decided to go after her dream.
- The dog went after the ball.
14. Run After
Meaning:
To run after means to run behind someone or something to catch it.
Examples:
- The boy ran after his kite.
- I ran after the bus this morning.
15. Stalk
Meaning:
To stalk means to follow someone closely and quietly.
Examples:
- The tiger stalked its prey.
- The hunter quietly stalked the deer.
16. Run Down
Meaning:
To run down can mean to chase and catch someone or something.
Examples:
- The police ran down the escaped criminal.
- We finally ran down the missing dog.
17. Follow Up
Meaning:
To follow up means to continue an effort to get an answer or result.
Examples:
- I will follow up on your request tomorrow.
- She followed up with the company about her application.
18. Track Down
Meaning:
To track down means to find someone or something after searching.
Examples:
- We tracked down the owner of the wallet.
- The reporter tracked down an old interview.
19. Go in Pursuit Of
Meaning:
To go in pursuit of means to go after someone or something.
Examples:
- The guards went in pursuit of the thief.
- He went in pursuit of his biggest goal.
20. Race After
Meaning:
To race after means to move quickly while trying to catch something.
Examples:
- She raced after her runaway hat.
- The children raced after the ball.
21. Search For
Meaning:
To search for means to try to find someone or something.
Examples:
- I am searching for my missing phone.
- They searched for a quiet place to study.
22. Strive For
Meaning:
To strive for means to work hard to achieve something.
Examples:
- Students strive for good grades.
- She strives for success every day.
23. Seek Out
Meaning:
To seek out means to actively look for someone or something.
Examples:
- We sought out a local guide.
- He seeks out new learning opportunities.
24. Aim For
Meaning:
To aim for means to try to reach or achieve something.
Examples:
- I am aiming for a high score.
- She aims for a better future.
25. Run To Catch
Meaning:
To run to catch means to move quickly after something so you can reach it.
Examples:
- I ran to catch the last bus.
- He ran to catch the falling ball.
7 Frequently Asked Questions About Synonyms for Chase
1. What is the best synonym for Chase
Pursue is a common synonym for chase when someone follows another person or thing to catch them.
2. What is another word for chase?
Other words for chase include pursue, follow, hunt, track, trail, race after, tail, and go after.
3. What is a simple synonym for chase?
Run after is a simple and easy synonym for chase.
4. Is pursuit the same as chase?
They are closely related. Pursue often sounds more formal, while chase is more common in everyday English.
5. What is the synonym of chase in a career context?
When chase means trying to achieve something, words such as pursue, seek, strive for, aim for, and go after can work.
6. What is the opposite of chase?
Depending on the context, opposites can include avoid, escape, stop, ignore, or flee.
7. Why should I learn synonyms for chase?
Learning synonyms helps you avoid repetition and choose the right word for different situations. These words can improve essays, blog posts, stories, emails, and everyday conversations.
Conclusion
Learning synonyms for chase gives you more ways to describe following, searching, catching, or trying to achieve something. Words like pursue, follow, track, hunt, seek, strive for, and aim for can make your English more natural. Practice these words in emails, essays, blog posts, and daily conversations. Regular practice will help you understand the small differences between similar words and choose the right one with confidence.
Habib Ullah is the founder of LanguagePilots, where he creates easy-to-understand English learning content to help students and professionals build confidence in communication.









