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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Knicks’ guards and wings pushed the pace, while Towns trailed behind, eager and able to reap the rewards. Of Towns’ 10 made shots on the night, six came with 14 seconds or more on the shot clock. —James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

What To Know Typically, significant winter storms end before April 1, but this year's unusual weather pattern is bringing additional snow to areas that had been trailing their seasonal averages. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Noun

Key to her rescue was a smelly T-shirt worn by her owner in 12-hour shifts that was ripped up and used as a scent trail to attract her to an enclosure, Kangala directors Jared and Lisa Karran said in a video posted to Facebook. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025

And discussions are still underway for how a trail could be safely separated from the tracks. —Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for trail

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail

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