tracing 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrā-siŋ How to pronounce tracing (audio)
Definition of tracingnext
as in pursuit
the act of going after or in the tracks of another the tracing of this mountain lion is going to be difficult if the rain washes away all of the tracks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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tracing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of trace
1
as in defining
to draw or make apparent the outline of trace your hand onto this piece of paper

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in tracking
to go after or on the track of police traced the burglar back to his apartment, where they discovered a ton of stolen loot

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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 tracing
Noun
In addition to the impact on a child and their family, each case of measles costs the public-health system on average $58,600 to respond to, including the cost of contact tracing and quarantines. — Deb Houry, Time, 30 Sep. 2026 Its features cover areas such as prompt research, brand mentions, competitor comparisons, citation tracing, and content analysis. — William Jones, Ascend Agency, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
The Peacock prequel stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela, tracing her traumatic journey from grieving mother to serial killer. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Many Kansans have seen television broadcasts of his church services, read his books in their Bible studies or watched his DVD series tracing the story of Jesus’ birth. — Ruth Graham, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tracing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tracing
  1. pursuit
  2. defining
  3. tracking
  4. outlining
  5. chasing
  6. sketching
  7. pursuing
  8. circling
Noun
  • Formerly, Christians were taught that greed--that is, the immoderate pursuit and love of money--was a sin.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The pursuit of responsiveness also extends beyond the mechanical hardware.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of pursuit
Verb
  • Yet as black became a defining color of modern fashion, most famously through Gabrielle Chanel’s little black dress of 1926, its association with mourning gradually loosened.
    — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In From Day One As countries build generation-defining infrastructure—road and rail tunnels, smart stadiums and hospital precincts—connectivity is too often bolted on late in construction.
    — Stephen Farrugia, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of defining
Verb
  • The biggest blow came in 2021, when Apple began letting iPhone users block apps from tracking them—a change Meta later said would cost it about $10 billion in 2022 alone.
    — Molly A. Wallace, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Multiple websites and apps experienced disruptions on Tuesday, including banks HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds Bank, according to Downdetector, a website tracking user reports of service disruptions.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of tracking
Verb
  • Complex tasks can require multiple agents generating thousands of words worth of logs outlining their steps, which could feel like trying to monitor a thousand people talking out loud, Riedl said.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
  • On Thursday, the Yes on Prop 45 campaign published research outlining a lucrative relationship between law firms that specialize in CEQA lawsuits and labor unions.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of outlining
Verb
  • Businesses that rediscover its values will gain what their velocity-chasing competitors cannot buy, borrow, or automate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • In January 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch changed the department pursuit policy, barring cops from chasing after vehicles fleeing car stops unless a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor was committed.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of chasing
Verb
  • Calvo, meanwhile, sits at a desk in his hotel room, gazing into the camera lens placidly while idly sketching on a sheet of paper.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Stepping inside the cabin shows Renault focused on the interior space before even sketching the bodywork.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of sketching
Verb
  • While countries like Sweden and France are pursuing similar deep geological repositories, Finland has officially crossed the finish line first.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Mustangs were pursuing three consecutive titles in 2026 when they were removed at the start of the playoffs for using an ineligible player.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of pursuing
Verb
  • Imagine Entertainment, was also circling Kraus’ scientifically accurate book.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • If there is indeed an exoplanet circling TIC 4206066, Rabtsevich may not actually be the first to have seen it.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of circling

Browse Nearby Words

traces
tracing
track
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Cite this Entry

“Tracing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tracing. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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