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

Relevance
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
This tracks with national polling, which shows affordability leading all other issues for voters. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 This approach supports rapid updates to target tracks, an important capability when monitoring multiple aerial threats that may be moving at different speeds and altitudes. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
The smart device clamps onto the inner rim of a toilet bowl and uses sensors to analyze waste, tracking things like hydration, gut health, and the presence of blood in the bowl; the device then sends personalized health insights to a companion app. — Angela Haupt, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Or how about researchers who are tracking where invasive species are taking up loads of space? — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 15 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
  • For rock climbers, there’s Shawangunk Ridge; for hikers there’s Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park; and for the trail runner there’s the 22-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail just beyond the hotel’s back door.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The second team will cut a trail through the island's jungle, connecting the landing site to the southern side of the lagoon.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of trail
Noun
  • There’s relief in his escape but the path has left him feeling scorned, too.
    — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Detours and shortcuts in the brain The cells and synapses of the brain aren’t arranged in rigid, linear paths for each task and experience.
    — Sean Mccabe, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of path
Noun
  • For four years, Western commercial passenger and cargo planes have already had to fly longer routes to avoid Russian airspace.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • For some, fraud was a route to upward mobility; for others, an act of revenge against the privileged.
    — Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of route
Verb
  • Businesses that rediscover its values will gain what their velocity-chasing competitors cannot buy, borrow, or automate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The settlers hurled stones with slings and set the groves on fire, chasing a group of journalists about 80 yards from the scene.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of chase
Verb
  • According to Clarksons, 36 percent of container capacity routed via the canal or the Cape of Good Hope traversed the Suez in early October, up from 8 percent between 2024 and mid-2026.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The program takes advantage of showcasing its expansive bounty, with inventive displays of all the ways in which these artifacts traverse borders of time and space.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of traverse
Noun
  • Previous studies relied on paleomagnetism, the study of residual magnetic traces in ancient rocks, since the orientation of those magnetic traces would have varied depending upon where that rock was located relative to Earth's magnetic field.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Rouse said traces of Garr's blood were found deep within the handle.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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