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
Relevance
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
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 tailing
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
Environmentalists stress that the risks associated with tailings basins like Mile Post 7 do not end when mining operations cease.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Mining giant Rio Tinto is experimenting with ways to extract lithium that exists in boron mining waste, and a Canadian startup is working to recover rare earths from tin-mine tailings.
—Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
The rest, plus any leakage that may get through a tailings pile’s liner, has the potential to pollute groundwater.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tailing
Noun
Using a water treatment plant at the mine, the company hopes to prevent tailings from contaminating local streams.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
Environmentalists stress that the risks associated with tailings basins like Mile Post 7 do not end when mining operations cease.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024
Mining giant Rio Tinto is experimenting with ways to extract lithium that exists in boron mining waste, and a Canadian startup is working to recover rare earths from tin-mine tailings.
—Vince Beiser, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
The rest, plus any leakage that may get through a tailings pile’s liner, has the potential to pollute groundwater.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tailing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tailing
Noun
-
Art environments are the typically fantastical creations of artists working outside of the mainstream who give over their entire homes and yards to their creative pursuits.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
The leading circumstances surrounding officers' deaths included activities related to responses to unlawful or suspicious activities, pursuits and traffic stops, according to the Justice Department.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
And the President’s feckless tech bros can arbitrarily withhold billions in federal support for everything from cancer research to hurricane tracking.—
Ron Cunningham,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
-
SpaceX has accounted for 134 of the 166 orbital launches in the US so far this year, according to tracking by Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.—
Paresh Dave,
Wired News,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
Nebraska is all in on pursuing Millard South tight end Isaac Jensen.—
Mitch Sherman,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
With such an unstable organization, this could dissuade Vrabel from pursuing a head-coaching gig with New York.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Scribble tracing can be a great activity for toddlers to explore nature and their creative side.—
Dr. Pooja Sarin Tandon,
Boston Herald,
11 May 2025
-
The costs go to various responses, including on-the-ground response teams, vaccine doses and vaccination clinics, case reporting, contact tracing, mitigation plans, infection prevention, data systems, and other technical assistance to state health departments.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
On Saturday, Moe Wagner suffered a knee injury and the Magic, trailing by 22 points at the end of the third quarter, rallied to beat the Miami Heat, outscoring the Heat 37-8 in the final quarter.—
Josh Robbins,
The Athletic,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Palantir is by far the most expensive stock on the S&P by its price-to-sales ratio, a metric comparing companies’ trailing 12-month revenues to its market value.—
Derek Saul,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
What To Know In a clip shared to X, formerly Twitter, McIlroy embraces his wife following his victory.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Right-hander Colin Rea delivered a solid outing, limiting the Dodgers to one run in 3 2/3 innings in his first start in Justin Steele’s rotation spot following the news Sunday that the lefty will be undergoing season-ending surgery on his elbow.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tailing. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share