track 1 of 2

1
2
as in path
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps there was still a faint track through the underbrush that indicated where the path used to be

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves I followed the track of the thief's eyes as he watched the woman put the money into her purse and walk away

Synonyms & Similar Words

track

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word track distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and vestige are common synonyms of track. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

When can trace be used instead of track?

In some situations, the words trace and track are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would vestige be a reasonable alternative to track?

While in some cases nearly identical to track, 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 track
Noun
Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025 On her way out of Camp 4, Lyubova was stopped in her tracks. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
You're known for tracking down people who won't talk to you. Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025 In Disillusioned, published last year, the journalist Benjamin Herold tracks how the school district in his middle-class Pennsylvania suburb of Penn Hills ended up $172 million in debt, leading to mass furloughs, service reductions, and, inevitably, higher property taxes. Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for track
Recent Examples of Synonyms for track
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
  • 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
  • This is your fastest route to real‑time rebooks and alerts.
    The Kim Komando Show, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Quilt Trails of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers As one of North Carolina’s most widespread routes, the Quilt Trails of the Tar and Roanoke Rivers encompasses seven counties.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • By the time they were chased by regime forces, their boat was virtually dead at sea, the remaining engine barely running.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • One chases agility and research breakthroughs, the other aims for affordability and everyday utility.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Lake-effect snow is anticipated as cold air traverses the relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, with several inches of accumulation and hazardous travel possible, especially near Lakes Erie and Ontario.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In the wild, macaques can traverse miles of novel terrain each week and socialize through grooming, but in many laboratories they are isolated in barren cages no bigger than a washing machine.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • To that end, Lasky is sure to give plenty of attention to the unearthly, haunting, and ethereal traces that mark our world.
    Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • For more reliable verification, try using reverse image search tools like Google Images or TinEye to trace origins, or use specialized AI image detectors like TruthScan, which scans for artificial generation artifacts with high precision.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • So for about 18 years, pedestrians and bicyclists vibing on footpath alongside the Blue Line would come to an abrupt stop near the I-277 overpass.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Both footpaths have been on Carlsbad’s master trails map for years.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • On Friday night the Supreme Court granted the request to block full SNAP payments as the case works its way through the courts.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • And the biggest November snowfall ever recorded in the city is 12 inches, all the way back in 1895.
    Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Track.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/track. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.

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