Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tailed
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at tail 1, -ed 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She was arrested on 13 December, when she tailed a food delivery worker to enter the property through a side gate.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026
Performance-wise, they have not been terrible, but their results have tailed off a bit.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
OTTAWA—Canada’s economy rebounded in the first quarter despite signs activity tailed off in March even with a spike in energy prices as the conflict in the Middle East escalated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
However, traffic tailed off the second half of the year, with the L.A. port expecting a single-digit decline in volume this year before Friday’s decision.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2026
The driver Dori Dilson wears a tailed white tuxedo and tall silk hat, but it is her passenger who rivets the crowd.
From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
