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
The track itself has nothing to do with the country star — or even really making love. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025 The project, created under tight deadlines and with hobby-grade parts, is now on track for wider military use. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
ReHeardle tracks your statistics too. Kris Holt, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Four residents reported sobriety as a success for the year, but that data isn’t tracked for every resident, according to McGinnis-Brown. Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for track
Recent Examples of Synonyms for track
Noun
  • With 105 trails and more than 2,000 feet of vertical drop, Purgatory has plenty on hand for the experienced skier, too.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Surfers often head to Bonsteel Park, which has a wooden walkway leading to the sand and hiking trails nearby or the beach at Sebastian Inlet State Park.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But when their paths do cross, fireworks usually follow.
    Jay Paris, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement Kirk’s path to national prominence was unlike that of other MAGA icons.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In addition to optimizing queries, Espresso routes queries between different compute clusters to maximize efficiency.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • The location of the firearm appears to match the suspect's route of travel, the sources said.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • These calls -- known as swatting -- panicked at least a dozen schools as police rush to campuses, chasing phantom threats with many of them being racially motivated and targeting historically Black colleges and universities.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Sep. 2025
  • To be sure, more mutual fund companies are going to be chasing those assets on the precipice of a huge decision from the Securities and Exchange Commission which could allow every asset management company to offer an ETF share class of their funds.
    Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The project also calls for several banquet rooms, as well as a 6-foot-wide waterfront walkway, open to the public during business hours, that traverses the perimeter of the property.
    Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
  • In two seasons, released in 2022 and 2025, the show traverses the Star Wars galaxy to show what means people employ to consolidate power and what risks others take to stop empire.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Likewise, the internet has made fundraising much easier with the use of online payment methods, which are easy to set up and difficult to trace.
    Richard Frankel, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
  • While performance is a major part of their lives individually—Tracey becoming a chorus line dancer, the narrator becoming an assistant to a pop star—a performance element that is particularly striking here is the way Smith traces dance from past to present, from Africa through the diaspora.
    Lauren Morrow September 9, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Accessibility and Sustainability Gravel footpaths and uneven stone walkways mean this isn’t the most accessible property, though there is a room specifically designed for wheelchair users.
    Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The park has more than 2,000 miles of footpaths and is a favorite of mountain bikers.
    Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Things seemed to be going Sporting KC’s way in the first half of a Sunday night matchup with fellow Western Conference playoff hopeful Austin FC.
    Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
    Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Track.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/track. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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