train

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtrān 

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

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

The [farm] tractor was 11.52 tonnes and the trailer 18.30 tonnes, giving a train weight of 29.82 tonnes.

—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

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

c

: the luminous trail or tail of a meteor or comet

Sightings of spiral meteor trains are not new.

—Stephen James O'Meara

3

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

A vigorous campaign has been in train for most of this year to prevent the Royal family from being deported in September.

—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

6

: 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

7

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

trainful

ˈtrān-ˌfu̇l 

noun

train

2 of 3

verb

trained; training; trains

transitive verb

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

5

: trail, drag

intransitive verb

1

: to undergo instruction, discipline, or drill

2

: to go by train

trainability

ˌtrā-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

trainable

ˈtrā-nə-bəl 

adjective

train

3 of 3

noun (2)

obsolete

: scheme, trick

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• cortege
• cortège
• entourage
• following
• posse
• retinue
• suite
• tail

Verb

• condition
• season

Choose the Right Synonym for train

teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill.

teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

Examples of train in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a movie star who never goes anywhere without a train of personal assistants to cater to his every whim and need

a train of supply trucks making its way to the army encampment

already a long train of ticket buyers waiting outside the stadium

you've broken my train of thought—now what were we talking about?

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The vast majority of those from San Diego were sent by train to the Santa Anita racetrack in Los Angeles County, a holding place for thousands being relocated from around Southern California. —Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025

Fans still go crazy for Braun Strowman’s running train attack. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

Verb

Your cabin crew has been trained to handle situations like this. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025

Flight attendants are trained through a four-tier wine education e-learning program developed in partnership with Andrea Robinson, Delta’s longtime sommelier. —Rachel King, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing train

• boat train
• bullet train
• choo choo train
• commuter train
• crate train
• cross-train
• epicyclic train
• express train
• freight train
• goods train
• gravy train
• house-train
• lost my train of thought
• paper-train
• passenger train
• power train
• pre-train
• set in train
• subway train
• train case
• train dispatcher
• train of thought
• train oil
• train set
• train wreck
• unit train
• wagon train
• wave train

Rhymes for train

• ane
• bane
• blain
• brain
• cane
• chaine
• cheyne
• deign
• drain
• fain
• fane
• feign

Kids Definition

train

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrān 

1

: 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

b

: result entry 2 sense 1, aftermath

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 verb

1

: 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

ˌtrā-nə-ˈbil-ət-ē

noun

trainable

ˈtrā-nə-bəl

adjective