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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Ducks never trailed and the third and took a 2-1 lead. oregonlive, 9 Sep. 2023 Hereford finished with 77 points and was trailed by Notre Dame Prep (125), Bryn Mawr (142), Richard Montgomery (185) and McDonogh (191). Craig Clary, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2023 This means using a taller focal point plant, a shorter plant or two to fill in around it, and then a few trailing plants to spill over the side. Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023 Hurts had played 33 snaps in the Eagles’ first 11 games, but with Philadelphia trailing the Green Bay Packers 20-3, coach Doug Pederson sent Hurts out for the second series of the second half. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2023 Not with 23 games remaining and trailing in the wild card race by a half game. To replace García on the roster, the Rangers will call up the organization’s top prospect, Evan Carter. Evan Grant, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023 Sircar and other members of the opposition boycotted the ceremony, during which Modi entered the lower-house chamber trailed by a retinue of shirtless Hindu holy men. Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023 Former Republican National Committeeman Bruce Hough trails with 26% of the vote early Wednesday morning. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023 The Tigers, as of Tuesday night, trail the Minnesota Twins by 10 games for first place in the American League Central. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 30 Aug. 2023
Noun
In a new series from The Journal podcast, WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff explores Bankman-Fried meteoric rise, devastating fall and the trail that will determine his future. WSJ, 21 Sep. 2023 Headline of the day DeSantis' anti-Covid comments give him ‘momentum’ on the campaign trail Sept. 13, 202304:13 Ron DeSantis' descent continues, unabated by the debate and time on the trail At the same time, the Florida governor is racing to raise money in Texas and California. Mark Murray, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2023 Homes with fenced yards, Zillow research shows, sell an average of three days faster than non-fenced homes. Access to parks or trails also ranks high on the wants list. Tom Peterson, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023 The American Climate Corps is a rebirth of the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, which put 3 million people to work during the Great Depression developing the national parks, building roads and trails, and managing forests. WIRED, 21 Sep. 2023 From coast-to-coast, and north to south, cities across America offer something unique for travelers to adore, including fall festivals, music events, and lengthy hiking trails to explore, all covered in a blanket of colorful fall foliage. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023 Ong dipped her hand into one of cold, clear pools along the trail. Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2023 Stallworth and Drew Gentry, her biology teacher who was fossil hunting with her, followed the trail of bone up a hill and discovered the skull of a prehistoric whale that may be a new species. Outdoor Life, 20 Sep. 2023 The images were captured on a trail camera set up by a member of the state’s Mountain Lion Response Team, MDC Furbearer and Black Bear Biologist Nate Bowersack tells Field & Stream. Travis Hall, Field & Stream, 20 Sep. 2023 See More

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 25 Sep. 2023.

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
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