as in pursuit
the act of going after or in the tracks of another
the detectives' trailing of the suspect led them to the stolen merchandise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in chasing
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 trailing
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
With six seconds remaining and Ohio State trailing by a point, the Buckeyes faced third-and-20 at the Oregon 38-yard line.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The Cubs got the first two on in the eighth trailing by a run, but with runners at second and third, the next three hitters — Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Carson Kelly — struck out.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Morejón replaced Yu Darvish to start the fifth inning with the Padres trailing by a run on Tuesday.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
However, with the stock now trading at 37 times its trailing earnings, the key question for investors is whether MSFT is still worth buying.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
McGrew had the interception to put the game away as FAU, trailing 38-28, was driving late in the fourth quarter.
—Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
With the Bears trailing by as many as 10 points late in the game, former USC star long snapper Jake Olson sent a message to Williams on social media.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Oregon rises after beating Oklahoma State by 66, while Clemson falls after trailing Troy at halftime before a 27-16 win.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
If and when the Patriots are trailing, opponents will be free to tee off on an O-line that may field a single above-average pass-blocker this year.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Golden State entered Sunday’s matchup against the Fever with a magic number of 4, which is the combined number of Valkyries wins and the trailing Los Angeles Sparks losses needed for the expansion franchise to clinch a playoff spot.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
He was replaced from the lineup in the fifth inning, with the A’s trailing 3-2.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
Today, even with the P/E reduced to roughly 110x trailing and 60x forward earnings, investors are increasingly questioning the sustainability of such a valuation, especially as growth in subscription revenue slows from peak levels.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
With six seconds remaining and Ohio State trailing by a point, the Buckeyes faced third-and-20 at the Oregon 38-yard line.
—Mike Defabo, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The Cubs got the first two on in the eighth trailing by a run, but with runners at second and third, the next three hitters — Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Carson Kelly — struck out.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Morejón replaced Yu Darvish to start the fifth inning with the Padres trailing by a run on Tuesday.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
On second and goal from the 6-yard-line and the Chiefs trailing 13-10, Mahomes fired to Kelce cutting into the middle at about the 2, with his momentum seemingly set to carry him into the end zone.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
However, with the stock now trading at 37 times its trailing earnings, the key question for investors is whether MSFT is still worth buying.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
McGrew had the interception to put the game away as FAU, trailing 38-28, was driving late in the fourth quarter.
—Alex Krutchik, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
With the Bears trailing by as many as 10 points late in the game, former USC star long snapper Jake Olson sent a message to Williams on social media.
—Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Oregon rises after beating Oklahoma State by 66, while Clemson falls after trailing Troy at halftime before a 27-16 win.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
If and when the Patriots are trailing, opponents will be free to tee off on an O-line that may field a single above-average pass-blocker this year.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Golden State entered Sunday’s matchup against the Fever with a magic number of 4, which is the combined number of Valkyries wins and the trailing Los Angeles Sparks losses needed for the expansion franchise to clinch a playoff spot.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
He was replaced from the lineup in the fifth inning, with the A’s trailing 3-2.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailing
Noun
-
But at a time when strains of anti-intellectualism are on display in pockets of society, and at a time when all else in the world feels overwhelming, Yeo says she’s moved to see people express so much interest in educational pursuits.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
-
On third-and-2 at the CU 20, the Buffs QB hurried left with seemingly the entire Houston defense in pursuit, spotted Omarion Miller just past the line of scrimmage, and shoveled him the ball before the red jerseys closed in.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Now the Razorbacks are chasing multiple scores for the first time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Through it all, commitment — whether to a client, a property, or the process — proved more valuable than chasing short-term gains.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Julz Arney, Apple's senior director of fitness technologies, said the AirPods Pro 3 will offer heart rate sensing and calorie tracking, in addition to 50 workouts that can be started solely through the earbuds.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The tracking request follows previous work for the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission in 2022, which saw 10 volunteer organizations track Orion on its trip to lunar orbit and back.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trombone emphasized patience, adaptability, and learning to navigate timelines and stakeholders with other airmen pursuing innovation.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Developers in Miami are pursuing the chance to build something new on the Miami Seaquarium property owned by Miami-Dade County while the parent company of the struggling theme park seeks to raise cash in bankruptcy court.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Each investigation into a case includes identifying and reaching out to people who may have been exposed by the person who tested positive for measles, a process known as contact tracing.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
But the crayoned tracing of Jaron’s hand above Goldie’s head was almost invisible.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Most of the city's 2 million population has been displaced multiple times in the past 22 months, following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of about 1,200 people—most of them civilians—and saw 250 people taken hostage.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Pharmacists in the state may administer vaccines either under the direct authorization of a medical provider or by following the Virginia Board of Pharmacy’s statewide pharmacy protocols, which are usually made in accordance with ACIP recommendations.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The sand-like tailings connect the mainland with the larger rocky island in Lake Superior, and some visitors scramble up its steep face to the top.—
Duluth News Tribune,
Twin Cities,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The plaintiffs also argued that that a tailings dam, if breached, would send a flood of toxic sludge that would heavily impact the communities of Dripping Springs, Kearny and Winkelman, and could possibly travel about 280 miles down the Gila River's watershed.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
McConaughey is joined by one other name actor, America Ferrera, who plays Mary Ludwig, the schoolteacher whose charges Kevin was tasked with escorting through danger.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Turner then was seen going into the same restroom and, moments later, escorting Mitchell out.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailing. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share