chase

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈchās

: the hunting of wild animals

—used with the

: the act of chasing : pursuit

The police caught the robbers after a high-speed chase on the highway.

: an earnest or frenzied seeking after something desired

this mad chase of fame

John Dryden

: something pursued : quarry

A fox was the hunter's chase.

: a tract of unenclosed land used as a game preserve

: steeplechase sense 1

observed the chase with binoculars

: 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

: to follow rapidly : pursue

a dog chasing a rabbit

: hunt

: to follow regularly or persistently with the intention of attracting or alluring

He was always chasing after women.

obsolete : harass

: to seek out

—often used with down

detectives chasing down clues

: to cause to depart or flee : drive

chase the dog out of the garden

: to cause the removal of (a baseball pitcher) by a batting rally

: to swing at (a baseball pitched out of the strike zone)

intransitive verb

: to chase an animal, person, or thing

chase after material possessions

: rush, hasten

chased all over town looking for a place to stay

chase

3 of 5

verb (2)

chased; chasing

transitive verb

: to ornament (metal) by indenting with a hammer and tools without a cutting edge

: to make by such indentation

: to set with gems

: groove, indent

: to cut (a thread) with a chaser

chase

4 of 5

noun (2)

: groove, furrow

: the bore of a cannon

: trench

: 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)

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

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of chase was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Chase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chase. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

chase

1 of 3 noun

ˈchās

: the hunting of animals

—used with the

: the act of chasing : pursuit

saw the thief and gave chase

: something pursued

: a scene (as in a movie) where the characters chase one another

chase

2 of 3 verb

chased; chasing

: to follow in order to capture or overtake

chase a thief

chase the bus

: hunt entry 1 sense 1

chase the fox

: 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)

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chase

noun (1)

verb (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near chase

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Biographical Definition

biographical name (1)

biographical name (2)