trace
noun
a surviving mark, sign, or evidence of the former existence, influence, or action of some agent or event; vestige.
was tracing
-
past progressiveof trace.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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 realized that the key to understanding swift virus transmission was tracing dolphin social networks, much as public health authorities have tracked the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 6, 2022
A North Korean patrol vessel that was tracing the seized ship briefly crossed the NLL but turned back shortly after the South’s military broadcast warnings and fired a warning shot.
From Reuters ● Mar. 9, 2022
Elvis Costello, in his tribute this week, said Moloney "was tracing the connection of Irish traditional music and human kinship across the hemispheres".
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2021
As Green and Torrey traced Pointer’s family forward in time, James Fisher was tracing his family backward, with the help of his genealogically savvy partner, Tanya Gaskins Hardy.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 11, 2021
Syme had fallen silent for a moment, and with the handle of his spoon was tracing patterns in the puddle of stew.
From "1984" by George Orwell
