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
Another factor in the decision to euthanize the mountain lions was their lack of fear when responding officers approached and the proximity of the lions to a popular hiking trail, Hart said. Wren Smetana, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025 That was at the very start of his trail running career, and there have been few wrong turns as dramatic since then. George Ramsay, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Entering play on Thursday, New York leads Boston by 1 1/2 games for the top American League wild card spot, and trails the Toronto Blue Jays by only four games for the East division lead. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025 Trading at 8x trailing revenue—nearly three times its four-year average of 3x—the stock appears highly exposed to market corrections. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail
Noun
  • The Sandisk Keynote showed a path to a 512TB version by 2027 and 1PB product sometime in the future.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Tropical Storm Erin is nearly at hurricane strength Thursday night, its western path putting islands in the far eastern Caribbean under tropical storm watches, according to the National Hurricane Center.
    South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement The trends in the report are heartening for Americans’ health, and, not for nothing, good news too for the marketers who supply the balls, helmets, paddles, and bats that keep us out on the greens, courts, tracks, and fields.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The Jayhawks’ offense should play a pivotal role in ensuring KU comes out on top. Prediction: Kansas (3-1) Game 5: KU vs. Cincinnati Cincinnati looks to get back on track after a rough first two seasons in the Big 12.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Asia hangs back from fetch, left; and right, Kiki gives her space to chase the ball at her own pace.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Michael Penix The Falcons’ selection of Penix put the draft on tilt in 2024, but his play at the end of the season — replacing an immobile, unproductive Cousins as starter — showed the upside Atlanta was chasing with their surprise selection at No. 8 overall.
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • No roads reach this untouched haven—only narrow, meandering footpaths.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Douglass laid out the first of what would become fifty-nine avenues, a hundred and eighty footpaths, and four walks.
    Paige Williams, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • Noel is presumed dead after an intense search revealed no trace of him.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Aug. 2025
  • The worst part: Powell could not have so much as a sip of alcohol throughout filming, as any trace in sweat would dislodge the facial prosthesis.
    Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The process is too time-intensive and costly, with not enough ROI for lenders to continue pursuing and untenable lending terms for SMBs to accept.
    Brock Blake, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Many people without children may want to retire early or pursue a completely different lifestyle in later years.
    Jessi Chad, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Hart Park pathways open up, while hardest hit facilities like the stadium will remain closed long-term Pathways and green spaces throughout Hark Park, including the pedestrian bridge from the Farmers Market to the park, have reopened to the public.
    Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • For too many, the diagnosis marks the beginning of years of stress rather than the start of a clear pathway to services.
    Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Google says the new Gemma 3 270M can be tuned in a snap and maintains robust performance despite its small footprint.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2025
  • With both chains growing their footprint in the Tennessee, here's how Wawa and Buc-ee's compare.
    Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on trail

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