1
as in paths
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps
took a trail through the woods to get to the main road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in tracks
a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it
the slugs left a slimy trail on the sidewalk
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in chases
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
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 trails
Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Plans for the subdivision include pickleball courts, a dog park and a series of public trails and pathways, including one for horseback riding, Yorgason said.
—Rose Evans
january 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
The largest share — about $250 million — would go to transportation projects, including bridges, street rehabilitation, bikeways, sidewalks, urban trails, and downtown mobility projects.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Yet there is no meaningful way to do that — or anything else in the semiautonomous Danish territory — without icebreakers’ crucial ability to cut trails through frozen seas.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
There are also informational pamphlets available for visitors at the trailhead, and the trails are well-marked with wooden signs along the way.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Many are dealing with a fraction of their trails in operation because of thin snow cover.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
For those who don't want to hike with a medical kit, this can be easily stowed in a vehicle to provide access, whether on the trails or on the road.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Part of the Table Mountain National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cape Point Nature Reserve is laced with trails, like the three-mile, out-and-back Olifantsbos Shipwreck Trail.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
The companies said the deal would accelerate KFC's expansion in the country and help revitalize Pizza Hut, which trails market leader Domino's by a wide margin.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
Knueppel entered the night tied with Charlotte product Steph Curry for the second-most in the league, and trails only the 105 put up by Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
Kansas City trails only the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, each with five titles, and the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with six trophies each.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Tampa Bay trails the Carolina Panthers, who at 7-6 now control their own destiny in the NFC South race.
—Alex Valdes, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Milan, the top-ranking European city, trails Atlanta by more than $100,000 per 10,000 people.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Left to its own devices, this species trails along the ground.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
His mark trails only Radek Dvorak (16) and Aleksander Barkov (13).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
The meteors are fast and sometimes leave persistent trails, but major outbursts aren’t expected until the 2030s when parent comet Tempel-Tuttle returns.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Plans for the subdivision include pickleball courts, a dog park and a series of public trails and pathways, including one for horseback riding, Yorgason said.
—Rose Evans
january 24, Idaho Statesman, 24 Jan. 2026
The largest share — about $250 million — would go to transportation projects, including bridges, street rehabilitation, bikeways, sidewalks, urban trails, and downtown mobility projects.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
Yet there is no meaningful way to do that — or anything else in the semiautonomous Danish territory — without icebreakers’ crucial ability to cut trails through frozen seas.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
There are also informational pamphlets available for visitors at the trailhead, and the trails are well-marked with wooden signs along the way.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
Many are dealing with a fraction of their trails in operation because of thin snow cover.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
For those who don't want to hike with a medical kit, this can be easily stowed in a vehicle to provide access, whether on the trails or on the road.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
Part of the Table Mountain National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cape Point Nature Reserve is laced with trails, like the three-mile, out-and-back Olifantsbos Shipwreck Trail.
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
At 41 million subscribers, Peacock significantly trails other subscription players in streaming.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
The companies said the deal would accelerate KFC's expansion in the country and help revitalize Pizza Hut, which trails market leader Domino's by a wide margin.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
Knueppel entered the night tied with Charlotte product Steph Curry for the second-most in the league, and trails only the 105 put up by Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025
Kansas City trails only the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys, each with five titles, and the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, with six trophies each.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 22 Dec. 2025
Tampa Bay trails the Carolina Panthers, who at 7-6 now control their own destiny in the NFC South race.
—Alex Valdes, New York Times, 12 Dec. 2025
Milan, the top-ranking European city, trails Atlanta by more than $100,000 per 10,000 people.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
Left to its own devices, this species trails along the ground.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
His mark trails only Radek Dvorak (16) and Aleksander Barkov (13).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trails
Noun
-
This signature Aayush hydrothermal experience blends contrast pools, saunas, reflexology paths, and salt rooms into a restorative circuit.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Manhattan’s urban grid disappears among the winding paths and dense foliage of Central Park.—
Katie James Watkinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These tests take place on public streets rather than private test tracks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But his score is far from being recycled Brat tracks.—
Matthew Huff,
Vanity Fair,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One child chases the duck, catches it, and stomps on it repeatedly.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
When Lucerys refuses, Aemond chases Lucerys on his dragon, seemingly meaning to injure him rather than kill him, but his dragon, Vhagar, delivers a fatal blow to Rhaenyra’s son.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Take footpaths toward the beach or stroll cobblestone streets in town for dining and shopping.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
No hills means there is no natural grade separation between the railroad and intersecting roads and footpaths.—
Ian Savage,
The Conversation,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fort Collins Police Services told CBS Colorado the building was closed to access in mid-December after concerning levels of meth traces were detected in the building.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Dating cave art is tricky and the team used a technique that analyzed chemical traces in mineral crusts that form on top of the paintings, sometimes called cave popcorn, to provide a minimum age for the art.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kyiv, like the rest of Ukraine, is not new to rolling outages as Russia pursues a strategy of targeting its energy grid each winter.—
Anastasiia Parafeniuk,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay of the preliminary injunction, filed last week, while the federal government pursues an appeal.—
Cole Premo,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Receptors help regulate biological pathways involved in processes such as inflammation, metabolism and cell protection.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Researchers examined potential insider actions, such as leaving access hatches open or deliberately blocking cooling pathways.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Crucially, the digital and physical footprints overlap.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
But, more importantly, it’s also used as a means for understanding how their chemical footprints can vary by plant source.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trails. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
