run after
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle after
Meanings
Chase someone by running
Why “after”? A person follows a moving target and tries to reach or obtain it.
“He ran after the bus.”
“The child ran after the puppy.”
Don't confuse with
Run after means chase someone by running. Run along means used to tell a child or someone to leave.
Test yourself
“He ran after the bus.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
run along
A contrast learners often mix up
Used to tell a child or someone to leave (often dismissively)
be after
Same after pattern: chasing
Be trying to find or get something
chase after
Same after pattern: chasing
Pursue someone or something quickly
come after
Same after pattern: chasing
Be later than something in time or order; Chase someone, or try to punish them
go after
Same after pattern: chasing
Pursue someone or something with effort
run about
Same base verb: run
Move busily in many directions
run across
Same base verb: run
Encounter someone or something unexpectedly
run against
Same base verb: run
Be a candidate in the same election as another person
Sink In — iOS & Android
Practice “run after” in Sink In
Drill “run after” and 1,300+ other phrasal verbs with spaced repetition, organised by the particle patterns that connect them.
- Learn the pattern behind dozens of verbs at once — not one-off translations.
- Spaced repetition (SM-2) brings each meaning back right before you forget.
- Four practice modes train recall and discrimination, not just recognition.
