# trail

/ˈtɹeɪɫ/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trail
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a path

noun · CEFR A2

a path through the countryside, often made of dirt or grass rather than a paved road.

For teachers: a rough path or track through a wild or rural area, typically unpaved and intended for walking or cycling.

- We followed a narrow trail through the forest until we reached the lake.
- The hiking trail winds steeply through the pine forest before opening onto a spectacular view of the valley below.

### 2. a mark left behind

noun · CEFR B1

a series of marks or signs left by something that has passed by.

For teachers: a mark, scent, or series of signs left by a person, animal, or object as it moves along.

- The wet dog left a trail of muddy footprints across the clean kitchen floor.
- The jet left a long white vapor trail across the clear blue sky, marking its path toward the coast.

### 3. TV preview

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a short advertisement for a future television programme or film.

For teachers: a brief promotional broadcast used to advertise an upcoming television programme or cinematic release.

- I saw a trail for the new drama series during the news break.
- The network aired a thirty-second trail for the documentary, hoping to build anticipation for the season premiere.

### 4. to follow

verb · CEFR B2

to follow someone by staying behind them, often secretly.

For teachers: to follow behind someone or something, often for the purpose of surveillance or tracking.

- The private detective trailed the suspect for three days without being seen.
- The police trailed the vehicle through the city outskirts, waiting for the driver to meet with his accomplices.

### 5. to be losing

verb · CEFR B1

to be behind another person or team in a competition or game.

For teachers: to be losing a competition or falling behind a competitor in terms of score or progress.

- The team was trailing by two goals at half-time but managed to win.
- Despite trailing for most of the race, the runner found a sudden burst of energy in the final lap to overtake the leader.

### 6. to drag behind

verb · CEFR B2

to pull something along the ground behind you.

For teachers: to drag or be dragged along the ground or another surface behind a moving object.

- The child walked slowly, trailing her blanket on the floor behind her.
- The long silk dress trailed elegantly across the marble floor as she moved through the ballroom.

### 7. military carry

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

to carry a rifle or gun low to the ground with one hand.

For teachers: to carry a firearm in a specific position with the muzzle forward and the butt near the ground.

- The soldiers were ordered to trail arms as they moved quietly through the brush.
- The infantrymen were instructed to trail their rifles to avoid catching the barrels on the low-hanging branches of the dense jungle canopy.

Usage: The verb is transitive in this sense, usually taking 'arms' or a specific weapon as its object.

## Examples

- We followed the mountain trail for three hours.
- The hikers stayed on the marked trail to avoid getting lost in the dense forest.
- Detectives discovered a trail of digital footprints that eventually led them to the suspect's hidden server in another country.

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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.