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Definition of tracenext
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as in hint
an almost imperceptible sign of something there didn't seem to be so much as a trace of the truth to anything he said

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in footstep
the mark or impression made by a foot followed the traces of the deer into the deep woods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trace distinct from other similar nouns?

The words track and vestige are common synonyms of trace. While all three words mean "a perceptible sign made by something that has passed," trace may suggest any line, mark, or discernible effect.

the killer left no traces

When could track be used to replace trace?

The synonyms track and trace are sometimes interchangeable, but track implies a continuous line that can be followed.

the fossilized tracks of dinosaurs

When might vestige be a better fit than trace?

The words vestige and trace can be used in similar contexts, but 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 trace
Verb
These investigations allowed researchers to trace how the ceramics were produced and compare them with examples found elsewhere. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 The Meadows traces its roots to Daniel Blake’s 1827 purchase of about 950 acres along the Buncombe Turnpike, according to a history of the property provided by Premier Sotheby’s. Joe Marusak august 26, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Her convalescence left no trace in me other than the sense of peace – writing about it now makes space for it, stretches it across the page – and the serene light in that room on the third or fourth floor of the hospital. Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026 According to a study published today in the journal PLOS One, pottery shards excavated from the famous Etowah mounds in present-day Georgia contain trace residues of the plant. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trace
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trace
Verb
  • Made for pretty much every texture, the airy foam gives fine-to-medium hair body without weighing it down, while helping define and smooth thicker waves and curls without sacrificing movement.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Drone warfare has become a defining feature in the country's war, with both sides carrying out strikes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The second system being tracked by the NHC was a weak area of low pressure with disorganized cloudiness and showers located in the northeastern and north-central Gulf.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The Charlotte Observer will be tracking all the movement in this live blog.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Seeking a way to maintain the trails, the Copleys decided to rely on foot traffic from hikers to keep down vegetation.
    John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
  • These trails form when aircraft engine emissions encounter extremely cold air found at high altitudes, causing tiny ice particles to develop.
    Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities on Wednesday pre-emptively announced that roads leading to the port would be closed to non-emergency vehicles for seven days, according to state media.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Under the new collective bargaining agreement, each NHL team must sign a permanent emergency backup who will be at every home game and travel with the team to all road games (like a bullpen catcher in Major League Baseball).
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Her path is profoundly reshaped by an encounter with Mari (Okamoto), a Japanese theater director battling cancer.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Security camera footage shows the shocking moment flood water crashes through the Nepal-China border area, with people seen running away as the water appears to wipe out everything in its path.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In Freeport, Allen has built the Bahamas Maritime Museum, where relics are cataloged, conserved, and displayed, creating local jobs and drawing tourists.
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Those old Albanian passports were relics of Communism, built to last.
    Ledio Cakaj, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Shouts of awe echoed behind as the final shred of the solar disk created a magnificent Diamond ring flare effect on the trailing edge of the lunar disk.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The food is stellar, as is the service, but there isn’t a shred of pretence about any of it.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The cuisine was also noteworthy, a generous choice of cocktails, wines, and cuisine with hints of contemporary English inspiration, while avoiding being British stodgy.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Warsh is unlikely to reveal his approach before the task forces report but at Jackson Hole the whole world will be looking for hints regarding his plans to reshape the Fed.
    Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trace.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trace. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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