as in pursuit
the act of going after or in the tracks of another
the detectives' trailing of the suspect led them to the stolen merchandise
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in chasing
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of trailing
Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026
On the foreign direct investment front, India has attracted gross capital of over $90 billion on a 12-month trailing basis ending January 2026, up 13% year on year.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 June 2026
The bigger issue is that Jason Adam has pitched with a lead once in his past five appearances and Jeremiah Estrada has gone six appearances pitching in either a tie game or with the Padres trailing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
Training plants to stay off the ground instead of trailing prevents many common fungal diseases, fruit spots, and rots.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
Before 2014, bull kelp—a whip-like kelp with bulbous air bladders and trailing blades —stretched across Northern California’s coastline in dense tangles.
—Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026
Though polls leading up to the election showed Cornyn trailing, most failed to accurately predict the sweeping scale of the incumbent’s loss.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2026
Via MoneyPuck Score effects were a factor here; leading teams often go into a defensive shell to protect that edge, while trailing teams can pump up the shots and risk to get back into the game.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 20 May 2026
With 36 seconds left and Atlanta trailing by one, Jordin Canada pounced on an A'ja Wilson turnover, drove the length of the floor and converted a running layup to give the Dream an 84-83 lead.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
This massive cash infusion supplements Alphabet’s staggering $174 billion in trailing 12-month operating cash flow and a debt balance that recently scaled past $100 billion.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
After trailing by as many as 29 points in the second half and even 20 in the fourth quarter in Game 4 on Wednesday, the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history to take a 3-1 series lead, rather than being tied at two heading back to Texas.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
The statement followed an Instagram Stories post in which Gomez congratulated the Knicks for their 107-106 victory over the Spurs after trailing by 29 points at one point in the game.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Nearly a month into the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, cases continue to rise as officials are still trailing the virus in their response efforts.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Teams had been 0-96 when trailing by 17 or more points in the final nine minutes of regulation in a Finals game since 1970-71.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Moore tried it again in Game 7 of the World Series, with another seventh-inning single while trailing by a run.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 May 2026
With regard to the housing market, to return to the Texas comparison, New York is trailing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Noun
The combination has left New York trailing by as many as nine points.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 9 June 2026
On the foreign direct investment front, India has attracted gross capital of over $90 billion on a 12-month trailing basis ending January 2026, up 13% year on year.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 June 2026
The bigger issue is that Jason Adam has pitched with a lead once in his past five appearances and Jeremiah Estrada has gone six appearances pitching in either a tie game or with the Padres trailing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
Training plants to stay off the ground instead of trailing prevents many common fungal diseases, fruit spots, and rots.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
Before 2014, bull kelp—a whip-like kelp with bulbous air bladders and trailing blades —stretched across Northern California’s coastline in dense tangles.
—Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026
Though polls leading up to the election showed Cornyn trailing, most failed to accurately predict the sweeping scale of the incumbent’s loss.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 May 2026
Via MoneyPuck Score effects were a factor here; leading teams often go into a defensive shell to protect that edge, while trailing teams can pump up the shots and risk to get back into the game.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 20 May 2026
With 36 seconds left and Atlanta trailing by one, Jordin Canada pounced on an A'ja Wilson turnover, drove the length of the floor and converted a running layup to give the Dream an 84-83 lead.
—Christopher Harris, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Verb
The game was a nail-biter, with the Knicks trailing the Spurs by nearly 30 points at the first half, only to come back in the second half and win in the last minute of the game by one point.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
This massive cash infusion supplements Alphabet’s staggering $174 billion in trailing 12-month operating cash flow and a debt balance that recently scaled past $100 billion.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
After trailing by as many as 29 points in the second half and even 20 in the fourth quarter in Game 4 on Wednesday, the New York Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history to take a 3-1 series lead, rather than being tied at two heading back to Texas.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
The statement followed an Instagram Stories post in which Gomez congratulated the Knicks for their 107-106 victory over the Spurs after trailing by 29 points at one point in the game.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Nearly a month into the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, cases continue to rise as officials are still trailing the virus in their response efforts.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Teams had been 0-96 when trailing by 17 or more points in the final nine minutes of regulation in a Finals game since 1970-71.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Moore tried it again in Game 7 of the World Series, with another seventh-inning single while trailing by a run.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 May 2026
With regard to the housing market, to return to the Texas comparison, New York is trailing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailing
Noun
-
His pursuit of those goals continues this summer, when Mora can become only the eighth 17-year-old to play in the World Cup, and the youngest ever for Mexico.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
-
The combination of vivid landscapes, attractions and activities, and cultural pursuits makes Samaná a unique destination that continues to gain ground on the world tourism map.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
And she’s taken a spot in the stands alongside their parents, who have spent years chasing their youngest children around the country to make sure at least one parent attends each pro or college game.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
8 June 2026
-
Now homeowners are chasing that same effect with HVAC scent diffusers — devices that hook into a home’s heating and cooling system to push fragrance through every room at once.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
For six hours, military and law enforcement personnel searched the sprawling base using real-time intelligence and tracking support from the NCIS Multiple Threat Alert Center and Regional Enforcement Action Capabilities Team.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Dozens of flights were canceled or delayed Friday at Chicago's O'Hare International and Midway International airports, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website.—
DAVE COLLINS,
Arkansas Online,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
In the third episode of the Hulu show about twentysomethings pursuing their careers in Manhattan, Davis (Will Angus) attempts to impress AJ (Ella Hunt) by eating seafood despite his life-threatening shellfish allergy.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
-
Gonzalez said Regional Transit is pursuing partnerships and discussions with previous contributors to secure long-term funding.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The key finding was that if public health interventions aren’t implemented swiftly and strongly—with contact tracing and case isolation—then the outbreak could rival or exceed the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
12 June 2026
-
That insight allowed the tracing of viral transmission, which in turn enabled him to prove that nurses in hospital maternity wards had been transmitting HSV between infants through a lack of hand-washing.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Rudin relinquished his Broadway producing duties in 2021 following allegations of bullying but returned last season with a transfer of Little Bear Ridge Road, also starring Metcalf.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
-
Ancheta said there were no immediate reports of casualties, but some people fainted following the strong tremor.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Initial environmental analytics work will focus on water quality, particulate emissions, geotechnical stability, tailings performance, biodiversity indicators and carbon intensity per metric ton produced.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Walker scored when Nick Castellanos tried and failed to make a diving catch on Winn’s tailing fly to right field.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Their responsibilities include securing stadiums and fan zones, escorting teams and protecting dignitaries.—
Jake Offenhartz,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Gate passes are used by airlines to allow non-ticketed individuals to pass through airport security, typically to allow extra assistance to travelers, or for escorting unaccompanied minors to and from gates.—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailing. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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