trace 1 of 2

Definition of tracenext
1
2
3
4
5
6
as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

7
as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trace distinct from other similar nouns?

The words track and vestige are common synonyms of trace. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

When could track be used to replace trace?

The synonyms track and trace are sometimes interchangeable, but track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

When might vestige be a better fit than trace?

The words vestige and trace can be used in similar contexts, but vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

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 trace
Verb
The film also traces Kennedy’s redemption from a troubled past that included the Hells Angels and time in prison, while highlighting the growing threats facing manta rays and the urgency of protecting them. Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines personally identifiable information as data that can distinguish or trace a person’s identity, either alone or when combined with linkable information. Nicole M. Bennett, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
The proposal would give the EU the power to ban imports with traces of pesticides that aren’t authorized in the bloc. Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 Such observations led Deng to ask whether smell’s enduring importance might have left detectable traces in the evolution of smell-receptor genes. Willow Zhang, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • The idea that government, which has been defined as incompetent and inefficient for decades, could provide grocery abundance and variety better than Walmart and Costco has triggered a visceral reaction among critics.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fierezza, for example, is defined by contrasts between pink peppercorn, incense, and marine notes.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Defense Ministry in Bucharest said in a statement that the craft was tracked and shot down by a Spanish F-18 fighter jet.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This electron camera can track atomic movements down to the femtosecond, which is one quadrillionth of a second.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Wings coach Jose Fernandez said Fudd is probably ahead of the others on the comeback trail.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The convenient location means a better chance of beating the crowds at the trails or in town.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Heavy deposits could collapse roofs, contaminate water, damage machinery, bury crops, disrupt power networks, and make roads difficult to use.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Torrential downpours routinely inundate roads and railway lines, disrupt air and rail traffic.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In Spain, hotel demand along the eclipse’s path of totality — including in the northern Spanish cities of A Coruña, Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela — has soared.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But while the new senator has championed some of her brother's priorities, like a Russia sanctions bill the Senate approved last week, she's also attempted to chart her own path.
    Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Things like trumpets cracking, lights failing, and the BBC presenter’s original record of the broadcast breaking – all remind us of the fragility of relics, said Finn.
    Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Hollywood Beach Resort, the century-old grande dame with a storied history, is now a vacant relic that appears to be heading toward a more cosmopolitan fate.
    Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The pork chop came with an unfamiliar vegetable, shreds of a green stalk.
    Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
  • How to Grate Zucchini Once grated, the one large zucchini for this recipe should come out to about 1 ¾ cups of shreds.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • Astronomers observing Betelgeuse in 2024 found hints of a second star, and now a paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics strongly supports its existence.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The team also found hints that oxygen was present in the brine, and even a bit of genetic evidence to suggest that underground microbes might be capable of using it.
    James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on trace

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster