trail

1 of 2

verb

trailed; trailing; trails

intransitive verb

1
a
: to hang down so as to drag along or sweep the ground
b
: to extend over a surface in a loose or straggling manner
a vine that trails over the ground
c
: to grow to such length as to droop over toward the ground
trailing branches of a weeping birch
2
a
: to walk or proceed draggingly, heavily, or wearily : plod, trudge
b
: to lag behind : do poorly in relation to others
3
: to move, flow, or extend slowly in thin streams
smoke trailing from chimneys
4
a
: to extend in an erratic or uneven course or line : straggle
b
: dwindle
her voice trailing off
5
: to follow a trail : track game

transitive verb

1
a
: to draw or drag loosely along a surface : allow to sweep the ground
b
: haul, tow
2
a
: to drag (something, such as a limb or the body) heavily or wearily
b
: to carry or bring along as an addition, burden, or encumbrance
c
: to draw along in one's wake
3
a
: to follow upon the scent or trace of : track
b
: to follow in the footsteps of : pursue
c
: to follow along behind
d
: to lag behind (someone, such as a competitor)

trail

2 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: a track made by passage especially through a wilderness
(2)
: a marked or established path or route especially through a forest or mountainous region
b
: a trace or mark left by something that has passed or been drawn along : scent, track
a trail of blood
c
: a course followed or to be followed
hit the campaign trail
2
a
: something that follows or moves along as if being drawn along : train
a trail of admirers
b
: a chain of consequences : aftermath
the … movement left a trail of bitterness and prejudice behind itPaul Blanshard
c(1)
: the streak produced by a meteor
(2)
: a continuous line produced photographically by permitting the image of a celestial body (such as a star) to move over the plate
3
: something that trails or is trailed: such as
a
: a trailing plant
b
: the train of a gown
c
: a trailing arrangement (as of flowers) : spray
d
: the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered
trailless adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for trail

chase, pursue, follow, trail mean to go after or on the track of something or someone.

chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer
trailed a suspect across the country

Examples of trail in a Sentence

Verb The little girl went to her room, trailing her teddy bear behind her. The dog's leash was trailing along the ground. The little girl's teddy bear trailed behind her. He trailed us as we worked our way up the mountain. The President is trailing in the polls as the election approaches. We were trailing by 3 runs at the end of the 6th inning. Our team trailed their team at the end of the 6th inning. Noun Stay on the trail if we get separated. The car left a trail of smoke as it sped off. following the trail to success
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Alabama never trailed in overtime and driving baskets by senior guards Aaron Estrada and Mark Sears gave the Tide an 84-80 lead with 1:40 left. Bob Holt, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024 The crowd began to grow restless when Sacramento fell behind 21-15 and trailed 31-30 at the end of the opening period, but then the Kings turned on the jets. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 Hunt’s Conservative Party is trailing the opposition Labour Party by a wide margin in opinion polls, which had put him under enormous pressure to unveil tax cuts — however small — in a last-ditch bid to win voters. Krystal Hur, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 San Ramon Councilmember Marisol Rubio was trailing far behind a few hours after the polls closed. Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 The Amazon founder dethroned Elon Musk, who trails behind at $198 billion, for the top spot. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024 The Jayhawks are 4-4 in games when trailing at the half. Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Texas is the second largest state, trailing only California, but Texas cities prominently make the worst diving list. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 The Lakers trailed by as many as 20 in the first quarter as the Suns scored 45 points in the opening 12 minutes. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
On Friday, a 23-year-old hiker from Kentucky was rescued from the mountain after going off trail and into the Ammonoosuc Ravine, New Hampshire Fish and Game reported. USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 The sheriff's office asked residents to review surveillance footage and trail cameras. Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 As part of the campaign, a brick trail will be built leading to Mayor Matt Hall Hill, which is a classroom and picnic area at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center that honors the former mayor. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 This hike will last about 45 mins and the trail is 1-mile long. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 Where the trails pass over slickrock, white dots painted on the russet stone show the way. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 There are just two dog-friendly walking trails, the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail, since most of the park’s hiking trails are set in the pristine backcountry. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 Law enforcement is urging the public to stay out of the Fault Lake trail area. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 5 Mar. 2024 The week quickly took on a pleasant cadence: Breakfast, in the Land Cruiser by 6:30 to beat the unseasonably brutal heat, four hours driving on the trail, lunch, siesta, and the second jeep tour, followed by sunset cocktails (usually in the bush) and dinner at the camp. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, perhaps from Anglo-French *trailer, alteration of trainer to drag, trail on the ground — more at train

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of trail was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near trail

Cite this Entry

“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trail. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trail

1 of 2 verb
1
: to drag or draw along behind
2
: to lag behind
3
a
: to follow upon the scent or trace of : track
dogs trailing a fox
b
: to follow in the tracks of : pursue
photographers trailed the actor
4
: to hang down or rest on or creep over the ground
trailing vines
a trailing skirt
5
: to form a trail
smoke trailed from the chimney
6
: to become less and less : dwindle
the voice trailed off

trail

2 of 2 noun
1
: something that trails or is trailed
2
: a trace or mark left by something that has passed or been drawn along
3
a
: a track made by passage : a beaten path
b
: a path marked to show a route (as through a forest)
hiking trails
c
: an established course or routine
hit the campaign trail

More from Merriam-Webster on trail

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!