trail

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrāl 

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 it

—Paul 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

ˈtrāl-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• bird-dog
• chase
• course
• dog
• follow
• hound
• pursue
• run
• shadow
• tag
• tail
• trace
• track

Noun

• footpath
• path
• pathway
• trace
• track

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

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The small-cap index’s 3% year-to-date return significantly trails the Dow’s 8% gain, S&P’s 19% jump and Nasdaq’s 36% surge. —Derek Saul, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023

The film opens as a car cruises along the highway at night, the Río skyline across the waterway as soft music trails the travel. —Holly Jones, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023

While trailing its namesake benchmark, it’s beaten nearly every US active manager over the past decade. —Emily Graffeo, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2023

That same Fox News poll that had Biden trailing Haley also found Trump leading Democratic alternatives like Whitmer and Vice President Kamala Harris in a theoretical matchup. —Leah Askarinam, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2023

Even more worrying for Democrats, the same poll found Biden trailing former President Donald Trump. —Haisten Willis, Washington Examiner, 20 Nov. 2023

Young voters: A number of public polls show that Joe Biden is trailing behind Donald Trump among young voters ages 18 to 34. —Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023

Senior West Gartland finished with three goals as well for the Vikings, who never trailed after taking a 4-2 lead with the last four goals of the first quarter. —Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Nov. 2023

The Huskies trailed 43-42 after a one-yard touchdown run by Cornell Hatcher Jr. and went for the win by trying a two-point conversion. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023

Noun

The single bullet left a trail of destruction inside her body. —Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2023

The Iowa native was found dead on Sept. 14, 1974, on the side of a trail in what is now Aliso Viejo. —Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023

The victim was on her daily walk on a trail in Leakin Park about 3:30 p.m. Nov. 7 when a man on a bench began talking to her about the weather, according to the charging documents. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023

Completed in October 2022, the board-and-batten and corrugated copper-roof structure is nestled amid a double corner lot, just steps from world-class surf breaks, beaches, hiking trails, and the shops and restaurants of Hanalei Town. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Nov. 2023

Get an early start to avoid the heat, and bring a bathing suit to enjoy where the trail meets the sea. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023

The long hike to the Chocolate Wall follows a steep trail up the side of the mountain, surrounded primarily by invasive pampas grass. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023

To go all out and enjoy the spirit of the season, adorn your nails with tiny trails of tinsel or delicate snowflakes. —Georgia Day, Vogue, 25 Nov. 2023

Political reporters took notice of her vivacity on the trail. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 20 Nov. 2023

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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

Phrases Containing trail

• blaze a trail
• audit trail
• hot on the trail of
• hit the trail
• nature trail
• campaign trail
• trail away/off
• trail (along) behind/after
• paper trail
• water trail
• trail of bread crumbs
• trail mix
• trail goes cold
• vapor trail
• trail bike

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• blaze a trail
• audit trail
• hot on the trail of
• hit the trail
• nature trail
• campaign trail
• trail away/off
• trail (along) behind/after
• paper trail
• water trail
• trail of bread crumbs
• trail mix
• trail goes cold
• vapor trail
• trail bike

See More

Kids Definition

trail

1 of 2 verb

ˈtrā(ə)l 

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