trail

1 of 2

verb

ˈtrāl

trailed; trailing; trails

Synonyms of trail next

intransitive verb

: to hang down so as to drag along or sweep the ground

: to extend over a surface in a loose or straggling manner

a vine that trails over the ground

: to grow to such length as to droop over toward the ground

trailing branches of a weeping birch

: to walk or proceed draggingly, heavily, or wearily : plod, trudge

: to lag behind : do poorly in relation to others

: to move, flow, or extend slowly in thin streams

smoke trailing from chimneys

: to extend in an erratic or uneven course or line : straggle

: dwindle

her voice trailing off

: to follow a trail : track game

transitive verb

: to draw or drag loosely along a surface : allow to sweep the ground

: haul, tow

: to drag (something, such as a limb or the body) heavily or wearily

: to carry or bring along as an addition, burden, or encumbrance

: to draw along in one's wake

: to follow upon the scent or trace of : track

: to follow in the footsteps of : pursue

: to follow along behind

: to lag behind (someone, such as a competitor)

trail

2 of 2

noun

a(1)

: a track made by passage especially through a wilderness

(2)

: a marked or established path or route especially through a forest or mountainous region

: a trace or mark left by something that has passed or been drawn along : scent, track

a trail of blood

: a course followed or to be followed

hit the campaign trail

: something that follows or moves along as if being drawn along : train

a trail of admirers

: a chain of consequences : aftermath

the … movement left a trail of bitterness and prejudice behind it—

Paul Blanshard

c(1)

: the streak produced by a meteor

(2)

: a continuous line produced photographically by permitting the image of a celestial body (such as a star) to move over the plate

: something that trails or is trailed: such as

: a trailing plant

: the train of a gown

: a trailing arrangement (as of flowers) : spray

: the part of a gun carriage that rests on the ground when the piece is unlimbered

trailless

ˈtrāl-ləs

adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for trail

chase, pursue, follow, trail mean to go after or on the track of something or someone.

chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer

trailed a suspect across the country

Example Sentences

Verb The little girl went to her room, trailing her teddy bear behind her. The dog's leash was trailing along the ground. The little girl's teddy bear trailed behind her. He trailed us as we worked our way up the mountain. The President is trailing in the polls as the election approaches. We were trailing by 3 runs at the end of the 6th inning. Our team trailed their team at the end of the 6th inning. Noun Stay on the trail if we get separated. The car left a trail of smoke as it sped off. following the trail to success See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Now, with Blitz Bazawule (and a wealth of recording industry talent including lead actress Fantasia Barrino and supporting performers H.E.R., Halle Bailey, and Ciara) driving the story, the revival could bring Purple to new heights on screen and the awards trail. —

Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2023 Nightmares and anxiety attacks trailed him, eased only after months of therapy. —

USA Today, 10 Apr. 2023 The Spurs pulled out a 129-127 victory after trailing 119-110 thanks to closing out the game with a 19-8 spurt. —

Afentres, oregonlive, 8 Apr. 2023 Of these, hard ALife trails the other branches in the race toward a second genesis. —

Shi En Kim, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2023 The second unit shot 9 of 14 the rest of the period to get Indiana back into and the Pacers trailed 38-29 at the end of the first. —

Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Apr. 2023 Dylan Dargis pitched 6 shutout innings and struck out 7. Windermere 9, Bishop Moore 6 Buzz: Windermere (14-3) scored all of its runs across the fifth and sixth innings after trailing 6-0. —

Nate Marrero, Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2023 Enter Email Sign Up The Celtics made an unlikely comeback after trailing by 7 points with just six seconds left, but Jayson Tatum’s potential game-tying shot at the buzzer was off, allowing the 76ers to escape with a 103-101 win. —

Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Apr. 2023 After trailing for the final 27-plus minutes, Butler gave San Diego State the only lead that mattered, draining a pull-up jumper as time expired to stun Florida Atlantic 72-71 in the Final Four on Saturday night. —

Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2023

Noun

Outdoor recreation and substance use have a storied past together on and off the trails and ski runs in small, nature-centric towns, which can of course contribute to declining mental health. —

Amelia Arvesen, Women's Health, 17 May 2023 The amenities include The HUB Clubhouse, a resort-style pool, covered patios, pickleball courts and miles of trails. —

Ladera, Dallas News, 16 May 2023 Promenade Trails at Little Chicago Road will have 151 apartments and 59 cottage rentals with sidewalks and trails for people 55 years and older and connect with Promenade Apartments, both built by the Justus Companies, of Indianapolis. —

John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 16 May 2023 The injured hiker, Aishwarya Shrotri, 28, of Cambridge, initially injured her leg ascending the trail, officials said. —

Kate Armanini, BostonGlobe.com, 15 May 2023 The investigation has left a trail of unanswered questions about the motives and methods of the attackers. —

Elian Peltier, New York Times, 15 May 2023 The toe cap protects your foot from feeling large rocks underneath and is great for trails that aren’t well maintained. —

Danny Perez, Popular Mechanics, 15 May 2023 Bird Buddy is sort of like a trail camera, those things that biologists and hunters mount on trees and check periodically. —

John Kelly, Washington Post, 14 May 2023 Popular activities there include camping, fishing, stargazing, and hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding across its 238 miles of mixed-use trails. —

Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 13 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.