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Definitions

go after

ADJECTIVE
aggressive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bold cocky dynamic energetic forceful smart tough vigorous zealous
WEAK
assertory brassy cheeky come on domineering enterprising flip fresh get up and go hard sell imperious masterful militant nervy pushing pushy sassy shooting from the hip smart alecky strenuous
Antonyms
STRONGEST
apathetic dull idle impotent inactive lethargic meek shy slow timid weak
WEAK
calm complaisant easygoing laid-back
VERB
catch
Synonyms
STRONGEST
get grab make overtake pass reach take
STRONG
board jump overhaul ram
WEAK
climb on come upon cotch hop on run down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fall behind leave lose miss
WEAK
let go release
VERB
chase
Synonyms
STRONGEST
drive drive away expel follow hound hunt run down rush tear track trail
STRONG
charge chivy course seek shag speed
WEAK
bird-dog take off after track down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
lead neglect retard
WEAK
escape retreat run away
VERB
compete
Synonyms
STRONGEST
battle challenge clash contend contest face fight play spar try vie wrestle
STRONG
attempt bandy bid collide emulate encounter essay fence grapple joust oppose rival strive struggle tilt tussle
WEAK
be in the running cope with go for go for broke go for the gold in the hunt jockey for position lock horns match strength match wits participate in pit oneself against run for scramble for seek prize take on take part
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agree give up make peace retreat surrender
STRONG
aid assist forget help let go release support yield
VERB
contend
Synonyms
STRONGEST
argue confront cope dispute grapple meet oppose push for resist vie
STRONG
battle clash contest controvert emulate encounter face jostle litigate oppugn push rival skirmish stand strive struggle tug withstand
WEAK
give all one's got give one's all go for go for broke go for it go for jugular have at jockey for position knock oneself out lock horns make play for mix it up with scramble for shoot at shoot for tangle with
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agree comply go along
STRONG
hide make peace retreat surrender yield
WEAK
abandon cede desert give in give up leave
VERB
follow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
pursue
STRONG
chase displace ensue postdate replace result succeed supersede supervene supplant
WEAK
be subsequent to come after come from come next go next proceed from spring from
Antonyms
STRONG
precede
WEAK
avoid disregard go before lead misunderstand neglect not get pass over scorn shun slight
VERB
follow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accompany attend seek track
STRONG
catenate chase concatenate convoy dog draggle escort freeze hound hunt persecute search shadow shag spook stalk tag tail tailgate
WEAK
bring up the rear come with dog the footsteps of give chase go with onto put a tail on run after run down schlepp along stick to string along tag after tag along take out after
Antonyms
STRONGEST
neglect
STRONG
ignore leave alone let go run away
WEAK
avoid disregard go before lead misunderstand not get pass over precede scorn shun slight
VERB
hunt
Synonyms
STRONGEST
drag examine forage interrogate investigate prowl scour seek
STRONG
delve grope inquire probe quest question ransack rummage sift trace trail winnow
WEAK
be on the lookout cast about ferret out fish for look all over hell look high and low nose around run down scratch around search high heaven try to find
Antonyms
STRONGEST
answer ignore reply rush
WEAK
let go neglect
VERB
inveigh
Synonyms
STRONG
admonish berate blast castigate censure condemn except expostulate kick lambaste object protest rail recriminate remonstrate reproach roast scold scorch trash upbraid vituperate
WEAK
crack down on have at jump down one's throat lay into lay out let have it read out rip into sound off tongue-lash work over
Antonyms
STRONG
accept agree allow approve compliment flatter laud praise uphold
VERB
prospect
Synonyms
STRONG
delve dig explore inquire investigate look probe search sift survey
WEAK
go into look into
Antonyms
STRONG
ignore
WEAK
miss overlook
VERB
pursue
Synonyms
STRONGEST
address chase sue
STRONG
call court date rush spark woo
WEAK
chase after go for pay attention pay court play up to sweetheart
Antonyms
STRONG
ignore stop
WEAK
discontinue eschew give up retreat run away shun
VERB
pursue
Synonyms
STRONGEST
seek
STRONG
accompany attend badger bait bug chivy dog fish harass harry haunt hound hunt oppress persevere persist plague ride shadow stalk tag tail trace track trail
WEAK
bird-dog camp on the doorstep of give chase hunt down move behind nose around play catch up poke around prowl after run after run down scout out search for search high heaven search out take out after track down
Antonyms
STRONG
aid assist be lazy give up help ignore leave leave alone let go neglect quit run away stop support
WEAK
discontinue eschew retreat shun
VERB
rebuke
Synonyms
STRONGEST
admonish berate castigate censure chide oppose reprimand reproach scold upbraid
STRONG
blame fry give a talking-to jawbone lecture lesson monish pay rake read reprehend reprove rip zap
WEAK
bawl out call on the carpet carp on chew out climb all over dress down jump down one's throat jump on lay into lean on sit on sound off take to task tear apart tell off tick off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
approve compliment flatter laud praise
VERB
rival
Synonyms
STRONGEST
emulate equal resemble
STRONG
amount approach approximate compete contend contest correspond match meet near partake tie touch
WEAK
bear comparison with come near to come up to compare with go for jockey for position measure up to rivalize scramble for seek to displace vie with
Antonyms
STRONG
disconnect give up leave
WEAK
aid assist cooperate help support
VERB
seek
Synonyms
STRONGEST
explore follow investigate pursue
STRONG
chase comb delve dragnet fan fish hunt inquire mouse nose prowl quest ransack root scout scratch
WEAK
be after beat the bushes bird-dog bob for cast about delve for dig for ferret out fish for gun for leave no stone unturned look about look around look high and low run after search for search out sniff out track down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignore shun
WEAK
answer find neglect reply
VERB
strive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aim endeavor go all out seek tackle
STRONG
assay attempt compete contend drive essay fight hassle jockey labor moil offer push scramble strain struggle sweat toil tug work
WEAK
bear down bend over backward break one's neck do one's best do one's utmost go for broke go for the jugular go the limit knock oneself out leave no stone unturned make every effort shoot for take on try hard
Antonyms
STRONGEST
neglect
STRONG
agree discourage dissuade idle laze make peace relax repress rest surrender yield
WEAK
forget skip
VERB
supervene
Synonyms
STRONG
chase displace ensue postdate pursue replace result succeed supersede supplant
WEAK
be subsequent to come after come from come next go next on proceed from spring from
Antonyms
STRONG
precede retreat run away
VERB
take a crack at
Synonyms
WEAK
attempt do one's best drive for give a go give a whirl go all out go for have a crack have a go have a rip have a shot have a stab have a whack make a pass at make a stab make an attempt make an effort risk shoot for tackle undertake vie for
VERB
track/track down
Synonyms
WEAK
apprehend be hot on the trail beat the bushes bird-dog bring to light capture catch chase cover dig up discover do dog dog footsteps of draw an inference expose ferret out find hunt piece together put together run down scout shadow smell out sniff out stalk stick to tail trace trail travel traverse unearth
Antonyms
WEAK
run away
VERB
try
Synonyms
STRONGEST
attack seek struggle work
STRONG
aim aspire compete contend contest endeavor essay labor propose risk speculate strive tackle undertake venture wrangle
WEAK
bear down chip away at do one's best drive for exert oneself go all out go for have a crack have a go have a shot have a stab have a whack knock oneself out lift a finger make a bid make a pass at make an attempt make an effort put oneself out shoot for vie for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
idle laze rest surrender
STRONG
abstain agree be idle forget give in give up ignore neglect
WEAK
delight please

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To build confidence, it isn’t just about going after a Ponzi scheme, which we all agree we have to go after.

From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026

We were told by the attorney who took over for mom’s original attorney that this trust was written like a special-needs trust, and that creditors would not be able to go after it.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

This categorization didn’t constitute a formal regulation; rather the agency was using its discretion not to go after compounders who used ingredients it deemed safe — those from the first category.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

“I think it’s natural that you will see some switching of crops, and the farmers need to go after the crops that give them the best margins given the uncertainty.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“You had better,” I tell her, “if you plan to go after your parents tomorrow.”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman