# trailing

/ˈtɹeɪɫɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trailing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. following behind

adjective · CEFR B2

following behind something else, often because it is being pulled.

For teachers: following or being dragged behind a moving object; often used to describe physical attachments or appendages.

- The car had a trailing wire that sparked against the road as it drove.
- The aircraft's trailing edge flaps were adjusted to increase lift during the final approach to the runway.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun.

### 2. hanging or growing down

adjective · CEFR B2

hanging down and growing along the ground or over the side of a pot.

For teachers: growing or hanging downwards in a long, loose manner; typically used in botanical or decorative contexts.

- She planted trailing flowers in the baskets so they would hang over the balcony.
- The ancient stone walls were almost entirely obscured by thick curtains of trailing ivy and wild jasmine.

### 3. losing a competition

verb · CEFR B2

being behind another person or team in a race or game.

For teachers: the present participle of trail, specifically used to indicate a position of inferiority in a score or competition.

- Trailing by two goals, the team had to play much harder in the second half.
- Despite trailing for most of the final set, the champion managed to break her opponent's serve and secure the victory.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'by' to indicate the score difference.

### 4. dragging on the ground

verb · CEFR B1

pulling something along the ground behind you.

For teachers: the present participle of trail, describing the action of dragging something along a surface or following a path.

- The child walked through the house, trailing a dirty blanket behind him.
- The hikers spent the afternoon trailing the elusive mountain goats through the rocky terrain of the upper valley.

### 5. hanging fabric

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

part of a dress or piece of cloth that hangs down and moves behind someone.

For teachers: material or fabric that hangs down or extends behind a garment or object.

- The queen's gown had long trailings of silk that swept the floor.
- The costume was designed with elaborate trailings of lace that mimicked the movement of sea foam as the dancer spun.

## Examples

- The trailing car in the race crashed.
- She signed her name with a trailing flourish at the bottom of the page.
- The team finished in a trailing position for most of the match but managed to equalize in the final minutes.

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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.