# tailed

/ˈteɪɫd/ (US) · /tˈeɪld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tailed
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. followed secretly

verb · CEFR B2

followed someone closely and secretly to see where they were going.

For teachers: followed or shadowed a person or vehicle, typically as part of a surveillance operation. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The private investigator tailed the suspect for three days before making a report.
- Undercover officers tailed the vehicle across the city, maintaining a discreet distance to avoid detection while documenting every stop.

### 2. having a tail

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a tail, or a specific kind of tail.

For teachers: possessing a tail; most frequently used in biological descriptions or as the second element in compound adjectives.

- The long-tailed monkey swung easily from one branch to another.
- The researcher identified several species of short-tailed bats that were previously unknown in this specific region of the rainforest.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.