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

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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

Another terrace leads to steps that trail down to the private beachfront. — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026 His 28 home runs are the second most by a Reds rookie, trailing only Frank Robinson's 38 in 1956. — CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for trail

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

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

Potsherds discarded after an 11th-century feast at Etowah—an Indigenous city just north of what’s now Atlanta—contained traces of cacao, a raw ingredient of chocolate.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
In Ossoff, the first millennial senator, Rogers sees traces of an earlier era.

— Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 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

Noun

Students can explore pathways in agricultural business, agricultural science, animal science, forestry and natural resources, ornamental horticulture, plant and soil science, agricultural technologies and advancements, and agricultural mechanics.

— Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Still, the administration late Monday filed a motion asking that the second hold be removed, and has posted new regulations from the Postal Service that would go into effect Tuesday if the legal pathway is fully cleared.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of pathway

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“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trail. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of trail

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verb

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