Definitions

go after

Part of Speech:

All (20) Adjective (1) Verb (19)

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aggressive adj.
catch v.
chase v.
compete v.
contend v.
follow v.
follow v.
hunt v.
inveigh v.
prospect v.
pursue v.
pursue v.
rebuke v.
rival v.
seek v.
strive v.
supervene v.
take a crack at v.
track/track down v.
try v.

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

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

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.

See Examples For:

go after

“We were originally told, ‘Oh they’re going to go after the criminals, the people who are the worst of the worst.’

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

On Monday, Abbas Moghtadaei, vice chairman of the parliament’s national security commission, said Iran has the right and the capabilities to go after individuals and organizations who ordered or planned the attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Language matters — despots go after journalists first because they are trained to seek the truth and make it plain for their readers.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

But it is not a criminal offence in Taiwan -- a situation lawmakers and experts say needs to change -- with Taiwanese prosecutors relying on other laws to go after offenders.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

I flashed to Pa saying, “Where’d you go after you cleaned the stalls, Nathaniel? Looks like a rat’s heaven in there.”

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

go after

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

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