tailed
v.v. to follow someone closely and secretly, usually to see where they go or what they do.
v. to follow and observe someone closely, typically in a surreptitious manner. Often used in the context of surveillance or police work.
The detective tailed the suspect through the crowded market.
Plainclothes officers tailed the vehicle for three miles before calling for backup to make the arrest.
The journalist suspected she was being tailed by private investigators hired to discourage her from publishing the exposé on the local administration.
From Middle English tayled; equivalent to tail + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the person or vehicle being followed.
Last updated May 6, 2026