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Synonyms

trailing

British  
/ ˈtreɪlɪŋ /

adjective

  1. (of a plant) having a long stem which spreads over the ground or hangs loosely

    trailing ivy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

The discovery in a border area of neighbouring Serbia comes as Orban's party is badly trailing in opinion polls ahead of crucial elections next Sunday.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Apple is also contending with the AI race and is seen to be trailing.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

At halftime, the Huskies went into the locker room trailing the top team in the nation by 15 points.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Disney-owned ABC had widely promoted the 22nd season of the show, in which 22 men compete for a relationship with a single woman, including trailing it during Sunday night's Oscars gala.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

I nearly forgot my fear, there in the brim, staring at sky and trailing smoke.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck