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
But the sleuthing trail actually provides enough evidence to keep them going, suggesting the existence of a local human trafficking network. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025 Bike the Tammany Trace Originally constructed as a corridor for the Illinois Central Railroad, the Tammany Trace is a 31-mile-long hike-and-bike trail that weaves through downtown Covington, Abita Springs, Mandeville, Lacombe, and Slidell. Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
The numbers trailed the performance of Kering’s larger luxury rivals LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which reported a 3 percent dip in first-quarter revenues to 20.31 billion euros, and Hermès International, which bucked the trend and delivered a 7.2 percent improvement to 4.13 billion euros. Miles Socha, Footwear News, 23 Apr. 2025 New York would have trailed by just one with less than six seconds left in regulation had the All-Star guard’s shot fallen. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail
Noun
  • Kelenic also doesn't have a clear path to playing time in Atlanta.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • They are already scheduled to appear before the board on June 13 as part of a comprehensive risk assessment report ordered by Newsom, who is considering the brothers’ clemency request – a separate potential path out of prison.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Davidson participated in football and track in Oregon.
    Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Clifford Wiley was a 13-time NCAA All-American track athlete at Kansas and member of the 1980 Olympic team.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The capturing of one of the sun's most elusive features is bound to inspire others to chase partial eclipses, particularly those occurring at sunrise or sunset, Seaton said.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Hundreds arose from the snow and began to chase Abby.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Vilnius already has 926 miles of footpath and a network of walking trails, including 24 leisure trails and 16 everyday routes.
    Emese Maczko, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Nearly six decades ago, Peralta Park was home to a community amusement park with circus-like attractions, but on Wednesday there were few strollers around and only a smattering of tents on the footpath above the channel.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Two Italian regions particularly show evidence of these first traces.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Per a project summary, the team discovered caves filled with paintings and traces of hunter-gatherer settlements.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After the Justice Department reversed course in 2023, the judge presiding over the case gave Mr. Trump a July 13, 2023 deadline to further pursue the Westfall issue.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Others have suggested that Trump is simply pursuing a more nationalistic style of great-power competition, one that would make sense to Xi and Putin, as well as India’s Narendra Modi and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
    Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That same day a flurry of executive orders closed down refugee resettlement and other regular pathways for protection.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Students were being sold a false pathway to prosperity from these for-profit colleges, which were often only interested in profits.
    Miguel Cardona, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Year after year, the fashion world has increased its footprint at Milan Design Week year on year, making for a dense and at times chaotic schedule.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In the early 2000s, after all, the sanctioning body of the biggest league in American motorsports wanted to capitalize on its growing popularity by expanding its national footprint.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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