1
as in to define
to draw or make apparent the outline of
trace your hand onto this piece of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to track
to go after or on the track of
police traced the burglar back to his apartment, where they discovered a ton of stolen loot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in trail
a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it
the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in path
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps
stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relic
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished
a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in shred
a very small amount
doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something
there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of trace
Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Beyond the glamour, the museum also traces her Johnston County roots, revealing how a small-town North Carolina upbringing shaped one of the silver screen's most enduring stars.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
News Desk, Artforum, 12 June 2026
The satellite also hosts the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission, which aims to monitor key air quality trace gases and aerosols over Europe in support of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) at high spatial resolution and with a fast revisit time.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
The route traces nearly 18 miles of the Lakefront Trail—all of them scenic—with the fountain smack-dab in the middle.
—Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
Beyond the glamour, the museum also traces her Johnston County roots, revealing how a small-town North Carolina upbringing shaped one of the silver screen's most enduring stars.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Noun
These photos, too, bore traces of Surrealism, as evidenced by his portrait series of Magritte, whose iconicity reflects that of the artist himself.
—News Desk, Artforum, 12 June 2026
The satellite also hosts the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission, which aims to monitor key air quality trace gases and aerosols over Europe in support of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) at high spatial resolution and with a fast revisit time.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
An average of seven in 10 goal kicks against Liverpool are being ‘launched’ (defined as being kicked 40-plus yards), the highest share in the league, and more than half of opposition goalkeeper passes in open play are long as well.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
-
And thanks to Paris Hilton, the ’fit that defined a decade of fashion is officially back in style.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Detectives later tracked him to Bullhead City, Arizona, with the help of facial recognition technology and arrested him in May.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
The 38-year-old is not easing his way into this match, helping clear an early ball for Argentina by tracking into the defensive backfield and winning possession himself as his side struggled to clear its lines.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
This mindset is perhaps best exemplified along the craggy Cornish coastline, where hundreds of miles of public trails have been thoughtfully preserved in a light-touch way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The resort offers direct access to Treasure Island Beach, along with miles of hiking and biking trails in nearby Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and Crystal Cove State Park.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Police call for drivers to remain attentive, particularly during the hours of sunrise and sunset, when shifting lighting conditions affect road visibility.—
Lyanne Wang,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
In the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s road game against the Washington Nationals, Lynch got the call out of the bullpen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Internationally collaborative and open-science efforts such as this are putting us on a path toward a meaningful treatment to halt the progression of Parkinson’s disease.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
-
His family still has a letter from Hubert Humphrey encouraging that path.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The late pontiff pledged to return the relics, but their fate would end up in the hands of his successor, Pope Leo.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
8 Dec. 2025
-
The dazzling Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara comes complete with a dramatic past as a relic of a lost monarchy.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
In a shred of good news for those who hate the frigid weather, this cold blast could be relatively short-lived.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
10 Dec. 2025
-
Even as the ground seems to shake underneath Maia’s feet, Lorene Scafaria’s directing picks up every shred of tension with laser precision.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to drop a major hint about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding details on June 15.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
16 June 2026
-
Onions add flavor, dimension, and a nice hint of acid.—
Stacey Lastoe,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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