1
as in to define
to draw or make apparent the outline of
trace your hand onto this piece of paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to track
to go after or on the track of
police traced the burglar back to his apartment, where they discovered a ton of stolen loot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in trail
a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it
the wolf came and went without leaving a trace on the hard, dry ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in road
a passage cleared for public vehicular travel
an old trace that dates back to the days of the covered wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in path
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps
stay on the trace, or you'll get lost in these thick woods
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relic
a tiny often physical indication of something lost or vanished
a ship that appears to have vanished without a trace on the high seas
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in shred
a very small amount
doctors detected only a trace of bacteria in the blood sample but put the patient on antibiotics just in case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Sanda Ojiambo, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
The show has a harder time tracing the arc of Guiteau, a man who, sensing that acclaim won’t be attainable, is happy enough to settle for notoriety.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
Colleges, employers and even peers can access public digital traces.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trace
Verb
Generative AI can now trace emissions, track supply chains and measure impact in real time.
—Sanda Ojiambo, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
The show has a harder time tracing the arc of Guiteau, a man who, sensing that acclaim won’t be attainable, is happy enough to settle for notoriety.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
However, there are a few mountain ranges where trace deposits can be found, including in Shafter, Quitman, Allamoore and Van Horn, according to the association.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2025
Colleges, employers and even peers can access public digital traces.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
-
Millennials, typically defined as individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s, are now at a point in their lives where their generational nostalgia is front and center.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The next two years will test how well Republicans can walk that line, using Mamdani to define the left without letting Newsom define himself.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This is the lowest approval rating the president has received since the pollster began tracking last month, and the highest disapproval rating.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Taking a glance at global markets overnight, Asia-Pacific markets rose, tracking Wall Street gains after AMD’s third-quarter earnings beat lifted artificial intelligence stocks.—
Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In an effort to make that happen, officials with the city of Little Rock presented a plan for the portion of the trail at the Dillard's headquarters on Thursday at an open forum meeting at the Dunbar Community Center, inspiring hope in some cyclists and advocates.—
Amir Mahmoud,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Lynch, the Rivian engineer, said outdoorsy types can feel confident taking their R1S or R1T Quads with them on the trails or national parks.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Running Fence was envisioned as a fabric-laden fence that would traverse Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California to the sea, crossing roads, highways, and private property.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
If there is no parking lot or driveway to pull into, pull your vehicle off to the side of the road as far as possible.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Vietnamese authorities have ordered mass evacuations from low-lying coastal areas in the path of Typhoon Kalmaegi, the 13th to hit Vietnam this year.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
There is no official agreement, internal or otherwise, and Republicans and Democrats Wednesday sounded no closer to a path forward.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Jadeite Cabbage, like most of the National Palace Museum’s collection, is an imperial relic once housed at the Forbidden City in Beijing before being relocated to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Their jaws dropped at the troves of historic artifacts and country music relics laid out before them.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Broncos put up negative net yardage on a whopping four drives, and only found a shred of fourth-quarter magic in Nix’s right arm on a late third-down rollout to Franklin to help put the game away.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But the unfixed nature of trauma colors even the most vivid of memories with shreds of doubt.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Players can provide hints or hold fast but will end up pissing the duo off either way.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This burgundy option brings a hint of holiday cheer while looking sophisticated.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share