trail
trayl
Trail (verb) means to follow closely behind someone or something. Example: “The puppy trailed behind her on the walk.”
verb
1
To follow closely behind someone or something.
"The puppy trailed behind her on the walk."
"Detectives trailed the suspect for three days."
"The ducklings trailed after their mother across the path."
2
To drag something loosely behind while moving, or to hang down loosely.
"The long dress trailed along the floor as she walked in."
"Ivy trailed from the window box and nearly reached the ground."
"Her scarf trailed in the mud."
3
To be losing or behind in a race, game, or competition.
"She trailed the leader for most of the race before sprinting ahead."
"Our school team trailed at half-time but fought back to win."
"The home team trailed by two goals at half-time."
noun
1
A mark or path left by something that has passed, or a route used for walking or hiking.
"We followed the trail up the mountain."
"The comet left a bright trail across the sky."
"Muddy footprints left a trail from the back door to the sofa."
How to use trail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo follow or drag behind something, or a path/mark left behind by movement.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
hiking trail
trail behind
trail by (a score)
leave a trail
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Word forms
- Plural
- trails
- Third person singular
- trails
- Past tense
- trailed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The puppy _____ behind her on the walk.
Etymology
From Old French trailler ("to tow, or track a scent"), ultimately from Latin trahere, "to pull or drag."
Related words
Rhymes for trail
See all rhymes for trail →Frequently asked questions
What does “trail” mean?
The word “trail” means to follow closely behind someone or something. In plain terms, to follow or drag behind something, or a path/mark left behind by movement.
How do you pronounce “trail”?
“Trail” is pronounced trayl (/tɹeɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “trail” in a sentence?
Here is “trail” used in a sentence: “The puppy trailed behind her on the walk.”
What part of speech is “trail”?
Depending on how it is used, “trail” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “trail” come from?
The word “trail” comes from Latin. From Old French trailler ("to tow, or track a scent"), ultimately from Latin trahere, "to pull or drag.".
Is “trail” a common word?
“Trail” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “trail” have?
“Trail” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to follow closely behind someone or something.
What is the difference between trail and follow?
Both mean to go along behind someone, but trail adds nuance. Trailing often suggests keeping a discreet or steady distance, sometimes to watch or track without being noticed, and can imply lagging behind. Follow is more neutral and simply means to go after, whether closely, openly, or from afar.
What is the difference between 'trail' and 'trial'?
They are easily confused because the letters are so similar, but the meanings are unrelated. A trail is a path or the act of following behind something. A trial is a test or a formal examination of evidence in court. Only the order of the 'i' and 'l' separates the two spellings.
What does it mean to trail in a game or election?
It means to be behind an opponent in the score, count, or standings. If a team trails by two goals, it is losing by that margin, and a candidate who trails in the polls is running second or lower. The word captures the idea of following rather than leading.
What is an example of 'trail' as a verb?
For example, 'The detective trailed the suspect through the market' means the detective followed closely behind. Other examples include a dog trailing its owner, reporters trailing a celebrity, or a runner trailing the leader. Each shows someone or something moving along just behind another.
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