as in chased
to go after or on the track of
detectives tailed the suspect to see where he was going at that time of the evening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tailed
Vast numbers of gregarious Central Texas grackles — the separate common and great-tailed species — assemble by the thousands at night, especially during the winter.
—
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
The Bride learns to view herself as a monster after a night of dancing at a club ends in violence, forcing the couple to hit the road, where they're tailed by a detective (played by Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard), and his brilliant but long-suffering secretary (Penélope Cruz).
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
After the showing, the crowd high-tailed it over to Genghis Cohen on Fairfax Avenue for a packed after party.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
When the officers left the parking lot, Rank tailed immediately behind them in her car.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
But it was quickly revealed that each of the ‘unsupervised’ cars were in fact being tailed by other ‘supervised’ Tesla cars (with drivers present) …so any claims of achieving true unsupervised autonomy are disingenuous at best.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Feliciano's white pickup was fresh from the repair shop after protesters tailed and rammed him on a busy street in Chicago amidst the controversial Operation Midway Blitz, during which Border Patrol agents fired tear gas at protesters after being confronted by angry crowds.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
El Toro tailed 30-17 going into the fourth quarter.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
In May, Fremont police and CHP officers reportedly formed a convoy around an Omni Logistics shipment headed to San Jose after noticing the truck was being tailed by a suspicious vehicle authorities had previously been surveilling as part of the investigation.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
The Bride learns to view herself as a monster after a night of dancing at a club ends in violence, forcing the couple to hit the road, where they're tailed by a detective (played by Gyllenhaal's husband, Peter Sarsgaard), and his brilliant but long-suffering secretary (Penélope Cruz).
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
After the showing, the crowd high-tailed it over to Genghis Cohen on Fairfax Avenue for a packed after party.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
When the officers left the parking lot, Rank tailed immediately behind them in her car.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 28 Jan. 2026
But it was quickly revealed that each of the ‘unsupervised’ cars were in fact being tailed by other ‘supervised’ Tesla cars (with drivers present) …so any claims of achieving true unsupervised autonomy are disingenuous at best.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Feliciano's white pickup was fresh from the repair shop after protesters tailed and rammed him on a busy street in Chicago amidst the controversial Operation Midway Blitz, during which Border Patrol agents fired tear gas at protesters after being confronted by angry crowds.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
El Toro tailed 30-17 going into the fourth quarter.
—Michael Huntley, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
In May, Fremont police and CHP officers reportedly formed a convoy around an Omni Logistics shipment headed to San Jose after noticing the truck was being tailed by a suspicious vehicle authorities had previously been surveilling as part of the investigation.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tailed
Verb
-
An immigration officer chased Aljorna who, according to the government, violently resisted arrest.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Tennessee Tech's starting pitcher lasted just ⅔ of an inning before being chased out.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Massiel Taveras was crowned Miss Dominican Republic in 2007 and has pursued acting since, finding success in the Latino market.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Death, stomach loss for earlier patients Not every patient who died after an operation by Heider had pursued weight loss surgery.—
Amber Gaudet
Updated February 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One item seen in the doorbell camera footage that investigators may have tracked down is the suspect's black gloves.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Food safety For three decades, federal health officials tracked food poisoning infections caused by eight germs.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The commissioner also acknowledged that the fines could conceivably be followed by the revocation of draft picks from tanking teams.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The commissioner also acknowledged the fines could be followed by the revocation of draft picks from tanking teams.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Officials who refused to be polygraphed were put on administrative leave; one of them was seen being escorted out of the building by security guards.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Radziwill wrote that upon arrival on the island, guests had to present a special coin—a rare Indian nickel—or else they would be escorted away.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tailed. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
