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

There’s also neighboring Lion's Head, which has a spiraling trail that leads straight to the top. — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026 The device was put into place after a pair of beavers moved into the in 2023 creek and constructed a dam under a footbridge, which caused flooding along a trail on the university's campus. — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

Most producers still trail global benchmarks in efficiency, product development and quality systems. — Sj Studio, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 The Sox trailed by four runs, but had the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth inning. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail

Noun

Rain chances along the storm's path remain over 60% on Wednesday, according to weather service forecasts.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Aitken is hopeful that the team’s sale will open a path to a new land deal with incoming owner Stan Kroenke.

— Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of path

Verb

The North American box office is still chasing the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, and despite a blockbuster summer, ticket sales are still lagging.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
That’s some serious currency for Mahomes to be taking into Season 10 with so much still in front of him — both in terms of years to play, presumably, and goals to chase.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of chase

Noun

Take the paved footpath behind Zori past olive groves to reach the ACI Marina, its restaurants and the taxi boats that take you to Hvar Town and the notoriously hedonistic beach club, Carpe Diem, on the neighboring island of Marinkovac.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Cultivating tradition Hours down a narrow, mountainous footpath, Reynalda García Juárez is tending to those roots, quite literally.

— Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of footpath

Noun

Ascherson’s own writing, in fact, contains a trace of Staatsduft—a certain whiff of an era when Europe had a very different place in the world.

— Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Investors who have backed companies through full capital market cycles know that and look for traces of that evolution.

— Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of trace

Verb

In his view, that includes a public education fund, though there are dozens of states along with cities, counties and school districts that will all be pursuing various remedies.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
That lack of investment in domestic infrastructure has in turn helped enable governments led by Carney and his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, to pursue their virtue signaling net-zero by 2050 goals.

— David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of pursue

Cite this Entry

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“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of trail

noun

verb

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