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
John Devine, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Every silver lining has come with at least a little cloud trailing in its wake.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Shildt removed starting pitcher Randy Vásquez in the third inning with the Padres trailing by a run and Vásquez having thrown a total of 48 pitches in the game.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Today, even with the P/E reduced to roughly 110x trailing and 60x forward earnings, investors are increasingly questioning the sustainability of such a valuation, especially as growth in subscription revenue slows from peak levels.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
With six seconds remaining and Ohio State trailing by a point, the Buckeyes faced third-and-20 at the Oregon 38-yard line.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The Cubs got the first two on in the eighth trailing by a run, but with runners at second and third, the next three hitters — Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Carson Kelly — struck out.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
These species spread by trailing roots or rhizomes to form clumps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
After Instagram account WelcometoArizona posted a video on Instagram featuring Speed and his many followers trailing behind him at the Arizona State Fair, many people in the comments where confused who this guy even was.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at the Miami office of the National Weather Service, said the worst of the system will likely be past South Florida by midday Monday, unless some of the trailing bands of rain and thunderstorms end up sweeping over the region.
—Alex Harris
updated September 28, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
While our villa had not been recently refreshed, the only telltale sign was the excessively large switches and dimmers trailing up the walls.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Mosley finished as the runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year last season, trailing only Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault.
—Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, with a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27, and the S&P 500 Index’s P/E at 24, are both distorted by tech stocks, such as Nvidia (NVDA).
—Lawrence Carrel, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
Pérez and the Marlins were lucky to end the inning trailing by only one run.
—John Devine, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
Every silver lining has come with at least a little cloud trailing in its wake.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2025
Shildt removed starting pitcher Randy Vásquez in the third inning with the Padres trailing by a run and Vásquez having thrown a total of 48 pitches in the game.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Today, even with the P/E reduced to roughly 110x trailing and 60x forward earnings, investors are increasingly questioning the sustainability of such a valuation, especially as growth in subscription revenue slows from peak levels.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
With six seconds remaining and Ohio State trailing by a point, the Buckeyes faced third-and-20 at the Oregon 38-yard line.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The Cubs got the first two on in the eighth trailing by a run, but with runners at second and third, the next three hitters — Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Carson Kelly — struck out.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Phillies entered the ninth trailing 4-1 and quickly reminded the Dodgers why their bullpen concerns are so loud.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
These species spread by trailing roots or rhizomes to form clumps.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025
After Instagram account WelcometoArizona posted a video on Instagram featuring Speed and his many followers trailing behind him at the Arizona State Fair, many people in the comments where confused who this guy even was.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Ana Torres-Vazquez, a meteorologist at the Miami office of the National Weather Service, said the worst of the system will likely be past South Florida by midday Monday, unless some of the trailing bands of rain and thunderstorms end up sweeping over the region.
—Alex Harris
updated September 28, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
While our villa had not been recently refreshed, the only telltale sign was the excessively large switches and dimmers trailing up the walls.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 28 Sep. 2025
Mosley finished as the runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year last season, trailing only Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault.
—Josh Robbins, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, with a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27, and the S&P 500 Index’s P/E at 24, are both distorted by tech stocks, such as Nvidia (NVDA).
—Lawrence Carrel, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailing
Noun
-
The struggle of artistic pursuit against personal and political constraints is a subtext embedded throughout An Unfinished Film.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Schedule networking activities that balance your personal and professional pursuits.—
Sarah Maokosy,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Entrepreneurs are first pulled toward their passion in all sorts of ways—whether that be through an overbearing parent, chasing a childhood dream career, or realization that a hobby can bring in millions.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The rest of the industry wants to emulate this success, but as many editors know, chasing a trend can be a futile endeavor.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
According to aircraft tracking service FlightRadar24, the Airbus H130 helicopter operated as Reach 5 had taken off from the roof of UC Davis Medical Center just minutes before the crash.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
It's powered by the fast and efficient S10 chip and boasts tons of health, fitness, and lifestyle features, including GPS workout recording, an ECG, sleep and cycle tracking, music, podcasts, and support for third-party apps.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When his estranged daughter Sam tracks him down, in a last-ditch effort to dig her way out of serious trouble, Mickey must choose between rekindling his relationship with his daughter in the face of a terrible tragedy or pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Chases are intended to be stopped based on what police policy describes as a continual evaluation of the risks by the pursuing officer.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The extra graphical features of this re-release (including ray tracing) help sell the 'haunted house' feeling of an empty colony at the center of constant storms.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Burrage led the efforts at Tuba City’s hospital by organizing a comprehensive response, including data collection, contact tracing, community outreach, disease surveillance, testing, vaccination campaigns and staff training.—
Suzette Brewer,
Scientific American,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In four days, their season was over following a Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees, a series where their youth and inexperience showed.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The series’ first season, chronicling the crimes of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prompted a conversation about the exploitation of Black and disabled people’s stories for entertainment, while the season following the Menendez Brothers led to a real-world reconsidering of their guilt.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The sand-like tailings connect the mainland with the larger rocky island in Lake Superior, and some visitors scramble up its steep face to the top.—
Duluth News Tribune,
Twin Cities,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The plaintiffs also argued that that a tailings dam, if breached, would send a flood of toxic sludge that would heavily impact the communities of Dripping Springs, Kearny and Winkelman, and could possibly travel about 280 miles down the Gila River's watershed.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In one video, court security officers were seen escorting the woman from the scene.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Lander was detained in June inside the same building, where the government also operates an immigration court, while escorting a man ICE wanted to arrest.—
David Dee Delgado,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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