as in pursuit
the act of going after or in the tracks of another
the reporter's constant tailing of the candidate resulted in an exclusive scoop
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in chasing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tailing
Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
In addition, Utah has significant amounts of tellurium that can be taken from tailings from copper mining and used in defense technologies.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Pine Ridge, South Dakota — A four-pack of rez dogs trotted toward the lone grocery store, greeting and tailing human companions in hopes of a spare scrap.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailing
Noun
The plaintiffs also argued that that a tailings dam, if breached, would send a flood of toxic sludge that would heavily impact the communities of Dripping Springs, Kearny and Winkelman, and could possibly travel about 280 miles down the Gila River's watershed.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
In addition, Utah has significant amounts of tellurium that can be taken from tailings from copper mining and used in defense technologies.
—Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Verb
According to Netflix’s synopsis, Nancy and Robin discover a sickness spreading through town, a mysterious man tailing their movements, and a series of clues that suggest something more dangerous than mere supernatural echoes.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Pine Ridge, South Dakota — A four-pack of rez dogs trotted toward the lone grocery store, greeting and tailing human companions in hopes of a spare scrap.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tailing
Noun
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For Lee, trusting his hair, makeup and costume team to get kabuki’s aesthetics exactly right freed him to focus on the drama — and on the film’s central question of what an artist is willing to sacrifice in the lifelong pursuit of beauty.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
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Setting off in pursuit was José María Zuloaga, a taciturn lieutenant colonel in the Mexican army supported by a band of irregulars.—
Carolina A. Miranda,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Though South Dakota State is a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament, and likely would have been dancing win or lose, the Bison were chasing their first bid in the 68-team field.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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Like many of their fans, each member was born to immigrant parents who settled in Southern California chasing something better.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Similarly, narrow definitions of terms such as tracking and surveillance could still permit a wide range of domestic intelligence-gathering, Carson, the former Army undersecretary, told me.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2026
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Studies of satellite data tracking deforestation suggest that Venezuela lost roughly 185 square miles (480 square kilometers) to gold mining alone from 2018 to 2025.—
Antonio Machado Allison,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Husso, who stopped 16 shots in the first period and 13 in both the second and third, had a timely performance amid speculation the Ducks are pursuing a backup goalie behind Lukas Dostal before Friday’s trade deadline.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Our first attempt at pursuing this logical path was the Drake Equation, which had, as its final term, the lifetime of an average intelligent, technologically advanced civilization.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Heat led by as many as 14 points in Thursday’s first half, but the Nets made a run late in the second quarter to enter halftime trailing by only four points.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
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When the shutter is open for less time, star images are sharper because the complete exposure occurs before Earth's rotation causes star trailing.—
Tantse Walter,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By late 1986, Iranian attacks on ships in the Gulf triggered a US decision to start reflagging and escorting vessels.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
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In one call, a person told dispatch that an inmate was being treated and IDOC officers were escorting him.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The investigations involved extensive work that included detailed surveillance review, financial tracing across multiple banking institutions and search warrants for telecommunications and digital records, Wellington said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
5 Mar. 2026
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Contact tracing is underway for members of the public and hospital staff who were possibly exposed to that second child when they were being treated at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Roseville.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Detainers are still valid following an inmate transfer, and facilities are generally responsible for forwarding detention requests along to the receiving institution to ensure that a detainer remains in an inmate’s file.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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Oil depots in Tehran smoldered following overnight strikes by Israel.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tailing. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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