# Dreaming of being chased Canonical: https://oniradreams.com/en/dream-symbols/being-chased Language: en Updated: 2026-11-07 Author: Onira Editorial Team By: [Onira Editorial Team](https://oniradreams.com/en/blog/author/onira-editor-ekibi) · Published 7 November 2026 · Updated 7 November 2026 · 2 min read > **Short answer:** Dreaming of being chased does not tie to a single meaning. In a psychological view, being chased most often stands for a feeling you avoid, a pressure or a matter you have put off. What decides the meaning is who or what chases you and what you feel as you run. ## The psychological view Being chased is among the most common dream themes. In a psychological view, the person or thing chasing you stands for a feeling, a responsibility or a matter you avoid. Running describes that you do not yet want to meet that feeling. Dream research reports that events involving threat appear often in dreams; Revonsuo explains this with a theory that dreams rehearse threat perception and coping skills (Source 2). This is not a diagnosis or a forecast, but a frame for how a dream can be read. ## Variations ### A stranger chases you An unknown chaser is linked to a feeling you have not named. Write how the chaser looked. ### An animal chases you Being chased by an animal is read with the feeling that animal stands for. Which animal was it and how did it feel? ### Running and hiding Hiding describes a situation whose meeting you put off. Was the place you hid in safe? ### Being caught Being caught relates to the moment of facing the avoided matter. What happened when you were caught, and what did you feel? ## Ask yourself - Who or what was chasing you? - What did you feel as you ran: fear, anger, helplessness? - If you asked yourself what you are avoiding lately, what answer would come? ## Related symbols - [Falling](https://oniradreams.com/en/dream-symbols/falling): Dreaming of falling does not tie to a single meaning. - [Dog](https://oniradreams.com/en/dream-symbols/dog): Dreaming of a dog does not tie to a single meaning. - [Snake](https://oniradreams.com/en/dream-symbols/snake): Dreaming of a snake does not tie to a single meaning. - [Exam](https://oniradreams.com/en/dream-symbols/exam): Dreaming of an exam does not tie to a single meaning. ## Keep reading - [How to Interpret Your Dreams: A 5-Step Method](https://oniradreams.com/en/blog/how-to-interpret-your-dreams): How do you interpret a dream? Start with the feeling, then add context, the key image and the questions to ask yourself, in five plain steps. - [How to Keep a Dream Journal: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://oniradreams.com/en/blog/how-to-keep-a-dream-journal): How do you keep a dream journal? A plain guide from putting a notebook by the bed to noting feelings and tracking recurring symbols. Start today. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does being chased in a dream say? Being chased does not tie to a single meaning. It is often linked to an avoided feeling or matter; your feeling in the dream sets the meaning. ### Why does a chase dream recur? Repetition offers a clue that the avoided matter goes on. Look in your journal for what your dreams share. ### What happens if I am caught in a chase dream? Being caught is a moment of facing something in the dream. What matters is what you feel afterwards. ## Sources 1. Palgrave Macmillan (2018). [Researching Dreams: The Fundamentals](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95453-0) 2. Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2000). [The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X00004015) **[Onira Editorial Team](https://oniradreams.com/en/blog/author/onira-editor-ekibi)** Last updated: 7 November 2026 Prepared by the Onira Editorial Team. For corrections write to hello@oniradreams.com. This content is for information only and is not a medical or psychological assessment. If your sleep or dreams keep troubling you, talk to a health professional. If you are in an emergency, call your local emergency number.