Synonyms of train

train 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrān 

1

as in entourage

a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person

a movie star who never goes anywhere without a train of personal assistants to cater to his every whim and need

Synonyms & Similar Words

• entourage
• crew
• staff
• tail
• posse
• personnel
• following
• suite
• retinue
• cortege
• assistant
• helper
• attendant
• court
• retainer

2

as in fleet

a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management

a train of supply trucks making its way to the army encampment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fleet
• convoy
• caravan
• parade
• procession
• line
• cavalcade
• motorcade
• armada
• flotilla
• navy
• column
• cortege
• argosy

3

as in queue

a series of persons or things arranged one behind another

already a long train of ticket buyers waiting outside the stadium

Synonyms & Similar Words

• queue
• line
• column
• string
• row
• file
• range
• cue
• rank
• chain
• sequence
• tier
• progression
• succession
• echelon
• array

4

as in sequence

a series of things linked together

you've broken my train of thought—now what were we talking about?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sequence
• chain
• string
• progression
• nexus
• concatenation
• consecution
• continuum
• catenation
• cycle
• belt
• chain reaction
• gauntlet
• flow
• scale
• circle
• river
• catena
• stream
• spectrum
• queue
• vicious circle
• succession
• line
• gamut
• file
• row
• range

train

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to prepare

to bring to a proper or desired state of fitness

has been training track-and-field athletes at the school for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prepare
• adjust
• condition
• season
• shape
• ready
• adapt
• orient
• acclimate
• accommodate
• break in
• strengthen
• fit
• accustom
• familiarize
• acclimatize
• orientate
• steel
• shape up
• habilitate
• habituate
• fortify
• inure
• naturalize
• toughen
• harden

2

as in to teach

to cause to acquire knowledge or skill in some field

will train the students in good study habits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• teach
• educate
• school
• lesson
• indoctrinate
• instruct
• coach
• tutor
• guide
• prepare
• mentor
• ground
• lecture
• prime
• drill
• preach
• inform
• lead
• retrain
• inculcate
• moralize
• qualify
• direct
• instill
• impart (to)
• show
• rear
• introduce
• fit
• habilitate
• edify
• familiarize
• enlighten
• implant
• catechize
• initiate
• verse
• reeducate
• brief
• homeschool
• reschool
• reteach

3

as in to focus

to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective

train all your thoughts on imagining how you'd score the winning goal in the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

• focus
• concentrate
• rivet
• center
• fasten
• home (in on)
• aim
• point
• direct
• attend
• set
• heed
• nail
• level
• zero (in on)
• mind
• fixate (on)
• refocus
• hone in (on)
• obsess (over)

4

as in to aim

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

trained his eyes on the distant bull's-eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aim
• cast
• direct
• set
• head
• hold
• bend
• steer
• pinpoint
• focus
• sight
• level
• concentrate
• face
• orient
• bear
• incline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• curve
• divert
• avert
• deflect
• shunt
• detour
• sidetrack
• rechannel

5

as in to equip

to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function

he's so experienced that they usually use him to train new recruits

Synonyms & Similar Words

• equip
• prepare
• qualify
• ready
• enable
• teach
• season
• fit
• condition
• adapt
• adjust
• shape
• groom
• educate
• tailor
• habituate
• school
• accustom
• empower
• authorize
• entitle
• instruct
• indoctrinate
• tutor

Synonym Chooser

How is the word train different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of train are discipline, educate, instruct, school, and teach. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than train?

While the synonyms discipline and train are close in meaning, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When could educate be used to replace train?

In some situations, the words educate and train are roughly equivalent. However, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When is it sensible to use instruct instead of train?

The synonyms instruct and train are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would school be a reasonable alternative to train?

While in some cases nearly identical to train, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When might teach be a better fit than train?

Although the words teach and train have much in common, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of train

Noun

That arrangement is efficient for moving large volumes over long distances, but assembling trains and coordinating terminal operations can make smaller, short-haul shipments less economical. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026

What readers are saying The comments on the article express a mix of opinions and suggestions regarding scenic train trips for viewing fall foliage. — Hannah Sampson, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026

Verb

The character was modeled after Mike Tyson; and to get into fighting shape, 50 trained three hours a day for nine weeks, dropping from 238 pounds to 200 pounds. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026

Inspiration for the project came from Casady’s own experience watching his children train in elite junior tennis at IMG Academy. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing train

• gravy train