plural trains
1
a
: a connected line of railroad cars with or without a locomotive
traveled the country by train
A train puffs across the Railroad Connection Bridge …—
Helen Cooper
Helen Cooper
b
: an automotive tractor with one or more trailer units
Tractor trains can operate not only within a plant but also outdoors between plants. These trains are especially useful where loads are too bulky or heavy for forklift trucks …—Joseph C. Quinlan
Joseph C. QuinlanThe [farm] tractor was 11.52 tonnes and the trailer 18.30 tonnes, giving a train weight of 29.82 tonnes.—Farmers Guardian (Preston, England)
Farmers Guardian (Preston, England)2
a
: the retinue or suite of a person of rank or consequence : following
In his train flock not the industrial workers of the world but the literary intellectuals of the capital cities of the world …—Sidney Hook
Sidney Hook
b
: a moving file of persons, vehicles, or animals
They had been walking for eight days. So had their small train of camels, mules and donkeys …—Matthew Parris
Matthew Parris
c
: the luminous trail or tail of a meteor or comet
Sightings of spiral meteor trains are not new.—Stephen James O'Meara
Stephen James O'Meara3
a
: an orderly succession
lost her train of thought
b
chiefly British
: a sequence (as of events or actions) leading to some result or goal
—often used in the phrase in train
A revolution had been set in train.—Max Davidson
Max DavidsonA vigorous campaign has been in train for most of this year to prevent the Royal family from being deported in September.—Raymond Keene
Raymond Keene
c
: accompanying or resultant circumstances : aftermath
consequences the discovery will bring in its train
4
: a series of moving mechanical parts (such as gears) that transmit and modify motion
a gear train
5
: a part of a gown that trails behind the wearer
Her bridal train was carried by a pretty flower girl …—Geoff Robinson
Geoff Robinson6
: the vehicles, personnel, and sometimes animals that provide maintenance, supply, and evacuation services to a combat unit
… Edward IV had an artillery train which impressed contemporaries, and which was clearly intended to provide for field actions as well as sieges.—Anthony Goodman
Anthony Goodman7
chemical engineering
: a series of parts or elements that together constitute a system for producing a result and especially for carrying on a process (such as the liquefaction of gas or separation of petroleum) automatically
an oil production train
8
: a line of combustible material laid to lead fire to a charge
A train of powder burning at a known rate can be made into an accurate timer as the length of the train is directly proportional to the time it takes to burn.—Robert A. Howard
Robert A. Howard
trained; training; trains
1
a
: to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient
b
: to form by instruction, discipline, or drill
2
: to make prepared (as by exercise) for a test of skill
3
: to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying
4
: to aim at an object or objective : direct
trained his camera on the deer
training every effort toward success
Synonyms
Examples of train in a Sentence
Verb
He was never formally trained as a chef.
I've been trained in first aid.
I'm training her to take over my job when I retire.
My boss is training me on the new equipment.
We need to train more nurses.
They are highly trained professionals.
I'm training to be a nurse.
I trained at that hospital.
He's training as a chef.
She had to train her mind to think scientifically.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebOren Hartov, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023
Long considered one of the oldest sports still practiced today, falconry has its participants, or falconers, train birds of prey (falcons, sometimes hawks, eagles or buzzards) to hunt wild game.
—Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
There will also likely be millions of people traveling by train or by bus to holiday gatherings.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Visitors can access the historical landmark, which is the largest cemetery in New York City, by taking the 4 train to the last stop.
—Kareema Bee, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
With 65 hours of music and talk time on a single charge and a compact, foldable design, these headphones are ideal for long car rides, plane rides, or train commutes.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
In a tense moment on a Lisbon train platform, one traveler learned just how critical this one’s zipper could be.
—Sarah Khan, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Edens said the train speeds will exceed 200 miles per hour.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023
Sometimes, that required slowing down trains or taking tracks out of service.
—Danelle Morton, ProPublica, 18 Nov. 2023
Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2023
While preparing for some of their most recognizable roles, actors like Cillian Murphy, Jenna Ortega and Margot Robbie trained in areas that can't be confined to a script.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Launched in February 1969, Washington Monthly trained a magnifying glass on the federal bureaucracy.
—Timothy R. Smith, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
Share [Findings] Scientists trained subjects to exercise control over a single neuron, linked the hippocampus to regret, and concluded that humans smell in stereo.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
Notably, Meta didn’t move to dismiss the allegation that the copying of books for purposes of training its AI model rises to the level of copyright infringement.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
They will have been trained to ask questions that may reveal contributing causes.
—Stanley Goldfarb, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Baur's algorithm, trained on the visual characteristics of 70 types of land mines, cluster munitions, and other unexploded ordnance, processes the images into a map, with resolution down to a fraction of an inch.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2023
Shotwell is a former high school cheerleader who is trained as an engineer but lacks their nerdiness, instead she has been described as smooth and well-spoken.
—Byluisa Beltran, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
The linear gear train of the Ulysse Nardin UN-240 automatic movement is counterweighted by a flying balance bridge.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2023
Long considered one of the oldest sports still practiced today, falconry has its participants, or falconers, train birds of prey (falcons, sometimes hawks, eagles or buzzards) to hunt wild game.
—Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
There will also likely be millions of people traveling by train or by bus to holiday gatherings.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2023
Visitors can access the historical landmark, which is the largest cemetery in New York City, by taking the 4 train to the last stop.
—Kareema Bee, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023
With 65 hours of music and talk time on a single charge and a compact, foldable design, these headphones are ideal for long car rides, plane rides, or train commutes.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
In a tense moment on a Lisbon train platform, one traveler learned just how critical this one’s zipper could be.
—Sarah Khan, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023
Edens said the train speeds will exceed 200 miles per hour.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2023
Sometimes, that required slowing down trains or taking tracks out of service.
—Danelle Morton, ProPublica, 18 Nov. 2023
Verb
In addition, both parties plan to recommend allocating funds to train makeup and hair experts on all hair textures and skin tones, according to the summary agreement.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 25 Nov. 2023
While preparing for some of their most recognizable roles, actors like Cillian Murphy, Jenna Ortega and Margot Robbie trained in areas that can't be confined to a script.
—Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Launched in February 1969, Washington Monthly trained a magnifying glass on the federal bureaucracy.
—Timothy R. Smith, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
Share [Findings] Scientists trained subjects to exercise control over a single neuron, linked the hippocampus to regret, and concluded that humans smell in stereo.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023
Notably, Meta didn’t move to dismiss the allegation that the copying of books for purposes of training its AI model rises to the level of copyright infringement.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2023
They will have been trained to ask questions that may reveal contributing causes.
—Stanley Goldfarb, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Baur's algorithm, trained on the visual characteristics of 70 types of land mines, cluster munitions, and other unexploded ordnance, processes the images into a map, with resolution down to a fraction of an inch.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 21 Nov. 2023
Shotwell is a former high school cheerleader who is trained as an engineer but lacks their nerdiness, instead she has been described as smooth and well-spoken.
—Byluisa Beltran, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'train.' 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
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from trainer to draw, drag
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French trainer, from Vulgar Latin *traginare; akin to Latin trahere to draw
Noun (2)
Middle English traine treachery, from Anglo-French, from trahir to betray, from Latin tradere — more at traitor
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of train was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing train
Dictionary Entries Near train
Cite this Entry
“Train.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/train. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
train
1 of 2 noun1
: a part of a gown that trails behind the wearer
2
: a number of followers or attendants : retinue
3
: a moving file of persons, vehicles, or animals
wagon train
4
a
: an orderly connected series of events, actions, or ideas
train of thought
5
: a series of moving machine parts (as gears) for transmitting and modifying motion
6
: a connected line of railroad cars
train
2 of 2 verb1
: to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying
2
a
: to teach in an art, profession, or trade
b
: to teach (an animal) to obey
3
: to make ready for a test of skill or strength
4
: to aim at an object or target
trained their eyes on the horizon
trainability
noun
ˌtrā-nə-ˈbil-ət-ē
trainable
adjective
ˈtrā-nə-bəl
More from Merriam-Webster on train
Nglish: Translation of train for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of train for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about train
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