trail 1 of 2

trail

2 of 2

verb

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
The first family was recorded in October by a trail camera installed in Osage County, located in the north-central part of the state near Tulsa. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025 In December, another adult was spotted on a trail camera with three kittens in Cimarron County. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025
Verb
The stock finished the session down 1.2%, trailing the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which added 0.3%. Zev Fima, CNBC, 9 June 2025 Sly’s girlfriend, a striking black lady with high Indian cheekbones, trailed along behind him and patted his enormous Louis XV bouffant Afro into place. Timothy Crouse, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for trail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail
Noun
  • The settlement also cleared a path for the operator to permanently shutter all services aside from the emergency and behavioral health at Rockville General Hospital in Vernon, The CT Mirror reported.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
  • Investigators believed the person who killed Betsy Faria took the dog outside after she was stabbed, the probable cause said, and blood was cleaned up from the path between the victim and the patio door.
    Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • Race car safety has come a long way since Andretti's day; the track walls are now padded, the drivers are more protected.
    Tracy Smith, CBS News, 15 June 2025
  • Last year, the number of space operations increased to 164, and the US industry is on track to conduct more than 200 commercial launches and reentries in 2025.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 15 June 2025
Verb
  • But one of his greatest spiritual teachers was a companion who liked to chase ducks and steal Taylor’s underwear — and whose most prestigious award was being honored by a local newspaper as its Pet of the Week.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 8 June 2025
  • In some tourist regions, emus have been known to chase people for food or become overly familiar – leading to head-butts, pecking or the occasional knockdown.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Paille also said that urban areas could be redesigned to separate roads from footpaths.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 27 May 2025
  • Shoppers have used them to spruce up everything from driveways, footpaths, and flower beds to stairways, swimming pools, and retaining walls.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • More than 17 people were arrested as suspects in connection to the case after investigators found trace amounts of DNA on plastic bands tied around Kardashian's wrists.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 11 June 2025
  • Consumers can see key product details such as COA’s, easily readable cannabinoid and terpene data, and supplemental product information directly sourced from the track and trace system.
    Peter Su, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The cases remain in the initial stages of investigation, with no certainty that any criminal charges will be pursued.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 9 June 2025
  • And, to be clear, there are some people who use protests like the ones against Trump’s immigration raids as a cover and excuse to pursue an extraneous agenda of violence and anarchy.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • Targeting college students in New York City, with a particular focus on the City University of New York (CUNY), this program aims to dismantle long-standing barriers to entry into venture capital and create new pathways for underrepresented, local talent.
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • That means expanding relevant support systems, ensuring Latino students see themselves in STEM leadership, and partnering with industry to provide meaningful career pathways.
    Dayna L. Martinez, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Looking ahead, Brett Bowman aims to expand Suncrest Capital’s footprint throughout the Central United States, scaling solutions to address the affordable housing shortage one neighborhood at a time.
    Jason Phillips, USA Today, 15 June 2025
  • The company generated $20.8 billion in operating cash flow, up 12% from the previous year, which is likely to augment its plans to expand its global data center footprint.
    Ankita Dhawan, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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