TRAIL Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'trail' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of trail are chase , follow , and pursue . While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object. // trail deer // trailed a suspect across the country

Q: When would 'chase' be a good substitute for 'trail'?

While in some cases nearly identical to trail , chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running. // a dog chasing a cat

Q: When is it sensible to use 'follow' instead of 'trail'?

The meanings of follow and trail largely overlap; however, follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake. // friends followed me home in their car

Q: Where would 'pursue' be a reasonable alternative to 'trail'?

The words pursue and trail can be used in similar contexts, but pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain. // pursued the criminal through narrow streets

trail 1 of 2

noun

Definition of trail next

as in path

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

as in track

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

trail

2 of 2

verb

ˈtrāl

as in to track

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trail distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of trail are chase, follow, and pursue. While all these words mean "to go after or on the track of something or someone," trail may stress a following of tracks or traces rather than a visible object.

trail deer

trailed a suspect across the country

When would chase be a good substitute for trail?

While in some cases nearly identical to trail, chase implies going swiftly after and trying to overtake something fleeing or running.

a dog chasing a cat

When is it sensible to use follow instead of trail?

The meanings of follow and trail largely overlap; however, follow puts less emphasis upon speed or intent to overtake.

friends followed me home in their car

Where would pursue be a reasonable alternative to trail?

The words pursue and trail can be used in similar contexts, but pursue suggests a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain.

pursued the criminal through narrow streets

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 trail

Noun

Elsewhere in the park, there’s kayaking and fishing in the lake, biking trails and a possible whirl through the century-old American Swedish Historical Museum, which in winter hosts the outdoor Ebba Sparre Sauna pop-up. —

Regan Stephens, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Visitors can hike trails and drive a scenic route through the colorful, rugged Badlands where bison and wild horses roam. —

Jack Dura, Fortune, 2 July 2026

Verb

De Bruyne and Doku were both subbed off in the 56th minute with Belgium trailing 2-0. —

Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 Mitchell and Anderson trailed further back, with Anderson at just 12% overall. —

Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for trail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail

Noun

From there, Florida's history followed the path more familiar to Americans, eventually becoming the 27th state in 1845.

— Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Infosys chose that path, committing to retrain more than 250,000 staff instead of pursuing mass layoffs.

— Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of path

Noun

This week, Madonna time travels back to the Eighties and dances the night away at a famous discotheque, R&B crooner Destin Conrad dives into reggae rhythms, and Rico Nasty teams back up with Kenneth Blume for a glittery new track.

— Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
Fans were originally split along the side of the hotel and in a pavilion across the street, with several cops asking them to stay away from the streetcar tracks and to allow cars to pass.

— Julianna Mejia, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

Definition of track

Noun

Foad adds that the idea of eliminating toxins comes from sweat washing away trace amounts of heavy metals from the skin, rather than flushing toxins from inside the body.

— Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 1 July 2026
When its inevitable end arrives, the sun’s core will exhaust the last traces of hydrogen fuel and kick off the first stellar death pangs.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026

Definition of trace

Verb

During the congressional hearing, Ranyan testified that the agency’s assistant secretary for security met with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department earlier in the year to pursue a contract for 24-hour patrol.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Giving ourselves permission to pursue things that are not obviously useful or productive is critical.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

Definition of pursue

Noun

Rent bikes to pedal the Legacy Trail, a 20-mile paved pathway that runs along a former railroad corridor from downtown Sarasota to the city of Venice, or go for a jog over the picturesque John Ringling Causeway bridge.

— Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Brands like Children of Earth are improving neurocosmetics, formulating products based on ingredients affecting skin stress pathways and sensory experience.

— Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of pathway

Noun

Part of Exemplar’s plan to focus more on luxury involves shrinking its footprint, going from around 170 stores last year to just 49 now.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
These include rolled or folded leaf blades, a dark or blue tinge to the foliage, or lingering footprints after walking on the lawn.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 June 2026