trail 1 of 2

trail

2 of 2

verb

as in to track
to go after or on the track of we trailed our friend into the woods, inadvertently spoiling his plans for a solitary hike

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trail distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of trail are chase, follow, and pursue. While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer
trailed a suspect across the country

When would chase be a good substitute for trail?

While in some cases nearly identical to trail, chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

When is it sensible to use follow instead of trail?

The meanings of follow and trail largely overlap; however, follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

Where would pursue be a reasonable alternative to trail?

The words pursue and trail can be used in similar contexts, but pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

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 trail
Noun
Overall, my house is nice and clean, especially around the baseboard and perimeter, which always shows a dust trail on my dark floor. Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 19 May 2025 Detectives found a trail of marijuana up the stairs to an open Pringles can inside a third-floor apartment. Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2025
Verb
But the home team trailed 2-0 early in the second half after a controversial Orlando goal by Luis Muriel from a deep pass by Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese in the 43rd minute and another goal by Marco Pasalic at the 53-minute mark. Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025 By the start of the fourth quarter, the Sparks trailed by eight. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for trail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail
Noun
  • Before the sun gets too powerful, go horseback riding at the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area or tackle the 5.6-mile bike path and trail at West Feliciana Sports Park.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2025
  • While embarking on mission to avenge Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal), the duo cross paths with a dangerous militant faction known as the Washington Liberation Front (W.L.F.) led by Isaac (Jeffrey Wright).
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • That single would go on to become one of The Black Keys’ most successful tracks, spending 48 weeks on the Alternative Airplay tally — the most among any of the band's tunes.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
  • Based on current tracks and the dead probe's orbital inclination of 52 degrees, the craft's reentry could occur anywhere between 52 degrees north latitude and 52 degrees south — an area that covers most of Earth's surface.
    Brett Tingley, Space.com, 9 May 2025
Verb
  • The result is a property that doesn’t chase trends but sets them.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Many chase quick profits in volatile markets, only to freeze when trades turn against them.
    David Billy, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • And in Sri Lanka, the hotel group Resplendent Ceylon has formalized a network of 14 footpaths that cut through forests and tea fields.
    Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The city’s roads and walkways are steep, bisected by narrow footpaths, all displaying wares or services for sale.
    Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • After late July 1845, when a pair of whaling ships encountered HMS Erebus and HMS Terror in Baffin Bay, off the coast of Greenland, no European ever reported seeing any of the men alive again, despite the fact that as many as 36 expeditions searched for traces of them between 1847 and 1859.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025
  • Much of the tour’s aesthetic traces to Lauper’s love for art, museums and eye-popping fashion; the tour boasts original collaborations with Wurtzel, Siriano, Geoffrey Mac, Brian Burke and Yayoi Kusama.
    Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Schools and Communities Leaving MIT to pursue a PhD, Yinka-Banjo envisions future growth of a movement in her country toward this kind of collaboration.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The company will pursue various cross-border initiatives spanning script development, co-production, and investment between its Tokyo and Beijing offices, with a focus on creating artistically bold works that maintain strong international market potential.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The deals also married with Brighton’s global recruitment model of attracting young players via a clear and potentially speedy pathway into the first team, with an expectation of not standing in the way of further career progression at the right price and in the right circumstances.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • The post included photos of the actress stepping into a turquoise ocean and looking off into the sunset, as well as glimpses of Theroux, first walking down a garden pathway at dusk and then spending time in a hot tub.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Apple said in February that its investing $500 billion in expanding its US footprint, which includes building a facility in Houston to produce servers for its Apple Intelligence AI features.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 9 May 2025
  • The engagement also spotlights China's growing role in military technology and supply, expanding its footprint in strategic regions and adding a new layer to the U.S.-China rivalry.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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