track 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrak How to pronounce track (audio)
Definition of tracknext
1
as in trail
a mark or series of marks left on a surface by something that has passed along it a muddy track across the kitchen floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in path
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps there was still a faint track through the underbrush that indicated where the path used to be

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in route
the direction along which something or someone moves I followed the track of the thief's eyes as he watched the woman put the money into her purse and walk away

Synonyms & Similar Words

track

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to chase
to go after or on the track of predators stealthily tracking their prey

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to traverse
to make one's way through, across, or over once upon a time, millions of buffalo tracked the wide open plains

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word track distinct from other similar nouns?

The words trace and vestige are common synonyms of track. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

When can trace be used instead of track?

In some situations, the words trace and track are roughly equivalent. However, trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

Where would vestige be a reasonable alternative to track?

While in some cases nearly identical to track, vestige applies to a tangible reminder such as a fragment or remnant of what is past and gone.

boulders that are vestiges of the last ice age

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 track
Noun
Since embarking on a creative collaboration with Flos over 10 years ago, Anastassiades has enhanced their lineup with iconic lamps like the IC Lights and Captain Flint, as well as the My Circuit flexible track system. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026 Bruno still gives them a seven, but that man’s always going to be horny on main, so that tracks. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
Garments can be tracked through each manufacturing process, with the goal of an end-to-end record per garment across its lifecycle. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 How do budgeting apps help a household track small purchases? — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for track
Recent Examples of Synonyms for track
  1. trail
  2. path
  3. route
  4. chase
  5. traverse
  6. trace
  7. footpath
  8. way
Noun
  • Meanwhile, popular trails like Laguna de los Tres in Los Glaciares National Park can feel like a stampede at the height of summer.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • But critics have warned the gloves will give ICE another weapon to intimidate and brutalize people even as the agency is under fire for excessive force that has left a trail of deaths and injuries across the nation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of trail
Noun
  • The 42 intricate episodes lining the walls of the Guggenheim’s rotunda follow the iconic winding path of the museum’s white spiral — a path not unlike the circuitous course of a life or a nation’s history.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Choi has rarely followed the conventional path for a Korean actor.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of path
Noun
  • The South Asian country meets nearly 85% of its fuel needs via imports, with the Strait of Hormuz being a key supply route before the war.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The route is expected to come into service next summer, albeit using slower trains that won’t cover the planned 316 miles.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of route
Verb
  • Stars Collective has been chasing rights deals to fill out its global film slate.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The company said its problems would not be solved by chasing unhealthy sales volume or short-term revenue.
    — Ryan Baker, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of chase
Verb
  • Here the goal is to traverse a sprawling castle, defeating all kinds of monsters and gathering gear and experience points to get stronger.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
  • So while Waddington’s landscape looked like a static territory waiting to be traversed, the real landscape changes as cells develop.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of traverse
Noun
  • His heart valves showed no signs of bacterial growth, but trace backflow was detected across one of his valves, a finding present in most people.
    — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This is the second British hotel by the brand behind the Orient Express, and although traces of those trains can be found in the doorman’s redcoats and the receptionist’s bow tie, this is not the sort of place that requires a gown for dinner.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of trace
Noun
  • The 400-year span starts with the Lenape footpath and works its way up to today, when one of the last Bowery artists, Billy Sullivan, has painted the denizens as part of a massive installation of portraits.
    — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But this one swept through Bright Angel Canyon, the site of one of the few footpaths that lead up the Gran Canyon’s North Rim.
    — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of footpath
Noun
  • As the business has grown, Nouri’s customers increasingly look for more ways to express their personal style on their wedding day.
    — Madison Collins, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Someone who has regarded filmmaking as a mysterious occupation might begin to see a way into it.
    — Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of way

Phrases Containing track

Browse Nearby Words

tracing
track
track (down)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Track.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/track. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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