track 1 of 2

Definition of tracknext
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
Learn how to tackle your debts and get your finances back on track. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 June 2026 Nearly all the tracks are rigorously plotted within the modal grammar of Hindustani classical music. Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Verb
Hutzell said that many San Diego County voters consistently wait until the final day to return their ballot, and added that participation is, at this point, tracking slightly higher in this election compared to the last two primaries. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026 Future sensors SpaceX's satellites won't replace the current airplanes that the military uses to track moving targets. Julian Dossett, Space.com, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for track
Recent Examples of Synonyms for track
Noun
  • There are courts for padel, pickleball, ping-pong, and tennis, and plenty of trails for ATV forest drives and guided sound-of-nature tours.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 May 2026
  • Images of the bird off San Clemente were taken by Jim Serpa, who was out for a morning walk along the beach trail on May 21, when the unlikely sight caught his eye.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • The latter can seem more like a game of dodgeball with bikes weaving in and out of your path.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Anger, denial, and fear are merely steps along the path of grieving.
    Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Officials from Taiwan and Japan are optimistic the route will boost tourism, foster trade and deepen bilateral ties.
    Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • There was a table with plenty of workspace, a charging station with cords, plenty of seating choices, and even a map that suggested jogging routes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Another solo blast tied it at three apiece in the seventh when Hokies infielder Ethan Gibson covered the deepest part of the park and chased Bruins’ starter Michael Barnett after six-plus innings.
    Josh Gross, Daily News, 31 May 2026
  • For now, Hughes is chasing another championship.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • It will be designed to operate for a year, traversing hundreds of miles across the lunar terrain.
    Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 31 May 2026
  • Named after a Norwegian ship that traversed the North and South poles at the turn of the 20th Century, Fram2 sought to pay homage to its namesake with a pioneering polar voyage of its own.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Valles Marineris is an enormous rift valley system on Mars that scientists want to scour for traces of liquid water, which may exist in sheltered niches and serve as an habitat for possible life.
    Leonard David, Space.com, 31 May 2026
  • Archaeologists recently uncovered traces of a rare purple dye associated with biblical-era luxury in an unexpected place.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Originally created by the Indigenous Potawatomi people, the footpath takes walkers past historic estates, modern homes, and lovely lakeshore vistas.
    Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
  • The Uganda-Congo border is several hundred miles long and crossed by numerous footpaths beyond formal border posts, which many people use daily to visit family or to trade.
    Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Just the way his approach is getting better and better every day.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 30 May 2026
  • Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski shouted two words — the first of which didn’t appear to be fit for print — and strode off the mound, the icy expression on his face frozen in place all the way to the dugout.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Track.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/track. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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