Cool MateChase vs Follow vs Hunt them down vs Pursue
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Chase
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Follow
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Hunt them down
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Pursue
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
| Chase | Follow | Hunt them down | Pursue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/tʃeɪs/","/ˈtʃeɪsɪz/","/tʃeɪst/","/ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʃeɪs/","/ˈtʃeɪsɪz/","/tʃeɪst/","/ˈtʃeɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈfɒləʊ/","/ˈfɒləʊz/","/ˈfɒləʊd/","/ˈfɒləʊɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈfɑːləʊ/","/ˈfɑːləʊz/","/ˈfɑːləʊd/","/ˈfɑːləʊɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //hʌnt ðɛm daʊn//🇺🇸 //hʌnt ðɛm daʊn// | 🇬🇧 //pəˈsjuː//🇺🇸 //pərˈsuː// |
| Meaning | To run after someone or something quickly. | To go after someone or something or do what they do. | to chase or find someone or something | To chase or try to achieve something. |
| Example | The children love to chase each other in the park. | I will follow you to the store. | The hunter decided to hunt them down after they escaped. | He decided to pursue a career in medicine. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A1 | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | chase a dream, chase after, chase someone away | closely, reluctantly, dutifully, beckon somebody to, beckon to somebody to, being followed, follow close behind (somebody), follow right behind (somebody), closely, quickly, shortly, (be) followed by something, follow in the wake of something, closely, quickly, shortly, (be) followed by something, follow in the wake of something, carefully, to the letter, dutifully, faithfully, blindly, slavishly, be expected to, be likely to, follow in somebody’s footsteps, follow in the tradition of somebody/something, follow suit, not necessarily, logically, naturally, (on) from, not quite, be easy to, be difficult to, be hard to | hunt someone down, hunt someone to the ends of the earth, hunt them down relentlessly | pursue a goal, pursue a career, pursue an opportunity |
| Antonyms | flee, avoid, escape | lead, precede, guide | let go, release, abandon | abandon, give up, discontinue |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'chase after' which is less common., Using the wrong tense, e.g., 'chased' instead of 'chase' when describing a continuing action., Using it without an object, e.g., saying 'I chase' instead of 'I chase the cat.' | Confusing 'follow' with 'lead' — they have opposite meanings., Using 'follow' without an object (e.g., 'I will follow' should specify who or what)., Mistakenly using 'follows' in the past tense instead of 'followed'. | Confusing with 'search for' which is less aggressive., 'Hunt them down' is often misused when not talking about pursuing someone. | Confused with 'follow' – 'pursue' implies a more active effort., Using 'pursue' with inanimate objects, instead of actions or goals. |
| Usage notes | Used when someone is trying to catch something or someone. It's appropriate for most contexts but can be informal if used in phrases like 'chase your dreams.' | Use 'follow' when discussing tracking someone physically or conceptually (like ideas or trends). For social media, 'follow' often describes subscribing to someone's updates. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts. | Use in casual conversations, often in contexts like games or crime stories. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'pursue' in neutral or formal contexts, such as academic or professional goals. Avoid in casual conversation. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Chase vs Follow vs Hunt them down vs Pursue
What's the difference between Chase, Follow, Hunt them down, and Pursue?
Chase: To run after someone or something quickly. Follow: To go after someone or something or do what they do. Hunt them down: to chase or find someone or something Pursue: To chase or try to achieve something.
Can you show an example of each?
Chase: The children love to chase each other in the park. Follow: I will follow you to the store. Hunt them down: The hunter decided to hunt them down after they escaped. Pursue: He decided to pursue a career in medicine.
Can I use Chase, Follow, Hunt them down, and Pursue interchangeably?
Not always. Chase, Follow, Hunt them down, and Pursue are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.