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

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

At the behest of a mysterious client, the bounty hunter Paladin (Todd Stashwick) is on Vision’s trail, as is the aforementioned android (T’Nia Miller). — Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Today, the Heath is still one of the area’s biggest draws, with open fields, woods, ponds, and walking trails. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026

Verb

Mays trailed Lithonia 21-7 in the third quarter last week when the Raiders caught fire, storming back for a 24-21 win. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Know More Collins handily won her race in 2020 despite trailing in the polls for months to Democrat Sara Gideon. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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

Following its release, the track logged 38 weeks atop Billboard’s Regional Mexican Airplay chart, won a Latin Grammy and went on to win regional Mexican song of the year at the BMI Latin Awards.

— Lars Brandle, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026
In France, students in classes préparatoires, the two-year track that feeds the grandes écoles such as HEC and Polytechnique, sit colles every week.

— Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of track

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

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

Employers have the biggest interest in making pathways to growing jobs more direct, particularly given the country’s aging population.

— Eric Kutcher, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Under this new pathway, only the nuclear module follows the exhaustive atomic licensing schedule, while the turbine complex proceeds under standard commercial timelines.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of pathway

Noun

Given the larger footprint and tech overhaul, expect a slight bump over the outgoing model's starting prices, which start at US$29,700, while the Tucson Hybrid begins at $31,300, before destination charges and depending on the pricing basis.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
The United States should instead defend a narrower set of core interests with a smaller military footprint, more diplomacy, more alternatives, and more partners.

— Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of footprint

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of trail

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on trail

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

deportment

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes