Definition

1. Verb:

   • To pursue in order to catch or overtake: To follow rapidly and closely with the intent to capture, reach, or overtake someone or something.
   • To drive or force away: To cause someone or something to leave or flee.
   • To try to obtain or achieve something persistently: To seek or strive for something, such as a goal or opportunity.
   • To try to gain the romantic or sexual attention of someone: To court or woo someone.

2. Noun:

   • The act of pursuing: An instance of following someone or something swiftly to catch them.
   • The sport of hunting: The pursuit of wild animals, especially as a sport.
   • An enclosed area for hunting: A tract of land reserved for hunting.
   • A rectangular metal frame in printing: A frame used in letterpress printing to hold composed type together.
   • A groove or furrow: A channel or indentation cut into a surface.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:

  • The police officer had to chase the suspect on foot. (The officer pursued the suspect to catch him.)
  • The cat will chase the laser pointer dot across the floor. (The cat will run after the dot.)
  • She is chasing her dream of becoming a doctor. (She is actively working to achieve her dream.)
  • He spent months chasing her before she agreed to a date. (He tried persistently to win her romantic interest.)

• Noun:

  • After a long chase, the fox escaped into the woods. (After a long pursuit, the fox got away.)
  • He enjoys the thrill of the chase more than the hunt itself. (He enjoys the pursuit involved in hunting.)
  • The compositor locked the type into the chase. (The worker secured the type in the printing frame.)
  • The carpenter cut a chase in the wall for the electrical wires. (The carpenter cut a groove for the wires.)

Advanced Usage

• "to chase after": To pursue someone or something, often with effort or determination.
  • He had to chase after the bus as it started to pull away.
• "to chase down": To pursue and successfully catch or obtain.
  • The reporter worked hard to chase down the story.
• "to chase up": To investigate, follow up on, or try to obtain something that is delayed.
  • I need to chase up that invoice from the supplier.
• "to give chase": To start pursuing someone or something.
  • The security guard saw the thief and immediately gave chase.

Variants and Related Words

• Chaser (noun):
  • A person or thing that pursues.

    • The motorcycle was a speedy chaser for the film crew.
  • A drink consumed after another of a different kind.

    • He ordered a whiskey with a beer chaser.
• Chaseable (adjective): Able to be pursued or caught.
• Chasing (noun/gerund): The action or activity of pursuing.

Synonyms

• Verb: Pursue, follow, hunt, trail, seek, run after, go after.
• Noun: Pursuit, hunt, quest, following.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Chase away/off: To force someone or something to leave.
  • We lit a fire to chase away the mosquitoes.
• Chase out: To drive or force someone out of a place.
  • The new policy chased out many long-term residents.
• Chase around: To rush about busily, often with little result.
  • I've been chasing around all day trying to get these errands done.

Related Idioms

• "A wild goose chase": A futile pursuit or search for something unattainable.
  • Looking for the old records in that disorganized attic was a wild goose chase.
• "Cut to the chase": To get to the point without wasting time.
  • Let's cut to the chase—what are your main concerns with the proposal?
• "Chase rainbows": To pursue unrealistic goals or dreams.
  • He's always chasing rainbows instead of focusing on a practical career.

Noun

1. a rectangular metal frame used in letterpress printing to hold together the pages or columns of composed type that are printed at one time
2. United States politician and jurist who served as chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1808-1873)
3. the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
   • the culprit started to run and the cop took off in pursuit

Verb

1. cut a furrow into a columns
2. cut a groove into
   • chase silver
3. pursue someone sexually or romantically
4. go after with the intent to catch
   • The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
   • the dog chased the rabbit