How does the verb phrase “ran after” compare to “raced after”?

“Ran after” is the past tense of “run after.” This is a phrasal verb (which is different to a verb phrase) meaning to chase, pursue, or follow someone or something. It can be used literally (e.g., “she ran after the bus”) or figuratively (e.g., “girls were always running after him”).

“Race after” is not included in most dictionaries as a phrasal verb. It may be encountered as an alternative to “run after,” but it is likely to be used literally rather than figuratively most of the time (e.g., “Charlie ran out of the room, and Karlo raced after her”).