trailed; trailing; trails
1
a
: to hang down so as to drag along or sweep the ground
b
: to extend over a surface in a loose or straggling manner
a vine that trails over the ground
c
: to grow to such length as to droop over toward the ground
trailing branches of a weeping birch
2
3
: to move, flow, or extend slowly in thin streams
smoke trailing from chimneys
4
5
: to follow a trail : track game
2
a
: to drag (something, such as a limb or the body) heavily or wearily
b
: to carry or bring along as an addition, burden, or encumbrance
c
: to draw along in one's wake
1
a(1)
: a track made by passage especially through a wilderness
(2)
: a marked or established path or route especially through a forest or mountainous region
c
: a course followed or to be followed
hit the campaign trail
2
a
: something that follows or moves along as if being drawn along : train
a trail of admirers
b
: a chain of consequences : aftermath
the … movement left a trail of bitterness and prejudice behind it—
Paul Blanshard
Paul Blanshard
c(1)
: the streak produced by a meteor
(2)
: a continuous line produced photographically by permitting the image of a celestial body (such as a star) to move over the plate
Synonyms
Examples of trail in a Sentence
Verb
The little girl went to her room, trailing her teddy bear behind her.
The dog's leash was trailing along the ground.
The little girl's teddy bear trailed behind her.
He trailed us as we worked our way up the mountain.
The President is trailing in the polls as the election approaches.
We were trailing by 3 runs at the end of the 6th inning.
Our team trailed their team at the end of the 6th inning.
Noun
Stay on the trail if we get separated.
The car left a trail of smoke as it sped off.
following the trail to success
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Manchester, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2024
The Packers trailed 27-0 at halftime, as Rodgers threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and were never in the game in the second half.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Yara Elshebiny, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Renée Ballard tracks a serial rapist whose trail has gone cold.
—The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trail 
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Verb
Even in deep-blue Fairfax County, Trump received a bump of more than 2 points, and Harris trailed Biden’s 2020 results by more than 4 points points.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2024
The Packers trailed 27-0 at halftime, as Rodgers threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and were never in the game in the second half.
—Rob Reischel, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
Red Bull trails in third on 555 points—29 points behind the Scuderia and 53 points adrift of the leaders.
—Yara Elshebiny, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Renée Ballard tracks a serial rapist whose trail has gone cold.
—The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trail
Dictionary Entries Near trail
Cite this Entry
“Trail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trail. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trail
1 of 2 verb1
: to drag or draw along behind
2
: to lag behind
3
4
: to hang down or rest on or creep over the ground
trailing vines
a trailing skirt
5
: to form a trail
smoke trailed from the chimney
6
: to become less and less : dwindle
the voice trailed off
trail
2 of 2 noun1
: something that trails or is trailed
2
: a trace or mark left by something that has passed or been drawn along
3
a
: a track made by passage : a beaten path
b
: a path marked to show a route (as through a forest)
hiking trails
c
: an established course or routine
hit the campaign trail
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