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
Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
With the Avs trailing in the third but gifted a four-minute power play, the dynamic duo found a way to make it 4-4.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
Pérez and the Marlins were lucky to end the inning trailing by only one run.
—John Devine, Miami Herald, 27 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
Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Daniel Slim | Afp | Getty Images By many metrics, American Airlines is trailing its rivals.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
His team were already trailing 3-0 — putting a fourth successive win at Old Trafford out of reach — up until 74 minutes.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
But things change on days The Queen comes trailing scarves and authority.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
There was more extensive usage of the backup running backs and a recommitment to the running game, which entered 11th in yards per carry but 28th in rushing attempts (partly a byproduct of Miami trailing so often this year).
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Each day brings more permanent residents, arriving in black hearses trailing solemn convoys of hazard-flashing cars to a place still served by generations of locals who cut granite memorials or pour sympathetic whiskeys.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Boston entered the second half trailing 64-44, having surrendered a 42-point quarter for the second time in two games.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
First when trailing by 14 in the final 15 minutes at Philadelphia.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
To have Jones trailing in a poll that looks relatively good for his ticket mates, though, should trouble his campaign.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
With the Avs trailing in the third but gifted a four-minute power play, the dynamic duo found a way to make it 4-4.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
Pérez and the Marlins were lucky to end the inning trailing by only one run.
—John Devine, Miami Herald, 27 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
With Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel both out, the 10th-year NFL veteran caught all four of his targets for 36 yards — trailing only Jaylin Lane, Chris Moore and Zach Ertz in receiving for Washington.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Daniel Slim | Afp | Getty Images By many metrics, American Airlines is trailing its rivals.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
His team were already trailing 3-0 — putting a fourth successive win at Old Trafford out of reach — up until 74 minutes.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
But things change on days The Queen comes trailing scarves and authority.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
There was more extensive usage of the backup running backs and a recommitment to the running game, which entered 11th in yards per carry but 28th in rushing attempts (partly a byproduct of Miami trailing so often this year).
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Each day brings more permanent residents, arriving in black hearses trailing solemn convoys of hazard-flashing cars to a place still served by generations of locals who cut granite memorials or pour sympathetic whiskeys.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
Boston entered the second half trailing 64-44, having surrendered a 42-point quarter for the second time in two games.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
First when trailing by 14 in the final 15 minutes at Philadelphia.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailing
Noun
-
Al-Khelaifi and Perez’s relationship was seriously damaged by Real Madrid’s long pursuit of Mbappe, which finally ended with the player leaving PSG to join Madrid in summer 2024.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Gentleman thief Sir Charles Lytton (David Niven) circles the prize while Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Peter Sellers) bungles the pursuit with sublime obliviousness.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hundreds more members of law enforcement –– local, state and federal –– worked the case, at one point searching more than 500 homes and 1,000 vehicles and chasing hundreds of leads.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The man told the officer that a woman was chasing him and trying to hit him with her vehicle.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The newest Apple Watch can detect signs of hypertension; the Oura Ring is offering new menopause tracking features (and pretty new ceramic bands); the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 is getting into biomarker testing with a brand new antioxidant tracking and vascular load features.—
Maggie Ryan,
Flow Space,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The sports company has released its Smart Ring, $249, a wellness tracking ring available in matte black, matte silver and shiny gold.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Petro has repeatedly defended his policy, which moves away from a repressive approach and prioritizes reaching agreements with growers of coca leaf - the raw material for cocaine - to encourage them to switch to other crops, pursuing major drug lords and combating money laundering.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The movie begins with a 10-year-old Michael already showing the brutality for which The Shape was known, then flashes forward 15 years to an adult Michael (Tyler Mane) pursuing his younger sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton).—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The other notable advancement involves ray tracing, which adds realistic lighting and shadow effects to games.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
The pickoff saved the Los Angeles Dodgers a run, as starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow walked Varsho and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk, but got the following two batters out to escape the jam.—
Valentina Martinez,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
-
In August 1996, Queen Elizabeth issued a new letters patent to address the issue of HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) stylings following a divorce within the royal family.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Current industry practice involves destroying residual cyanide in waste tailings.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
During the deployment, the British aircraft carrier and its escorting warships have operated in the South China Sea, where China has sweeping territorial claims, and in the Indian Ocean for the first-ever dual aircraft carrier exercise with their Indian counterparts.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Video footage showed armed men escorting the buses through the town, firing guns into the air.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailing. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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