trace
noun
a surviving mark, sign, or evidence of the former existence, influence, or action of some agent or event; vestige.
were 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.
Taichung authorities were tracing the whereabouts of 28 pigs from the farm that were sold in markets, Lin Nien-nung, from the ministry's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency, said Thursday.
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025
Yes, lots of people were tracing their daily steps to become healthier, but that same heat map also tracked runners on military bases, revealing the locations of secret bases.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 28, 2023
Investigators, including agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were tracing the weapon to see whether it was the gun used in Sunday’s incident.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 30, 2022
The German man was being treated in isolation and officials were tracing people who had been in contact with him.
From New York Times ● Jan. 29, 2020
Amala’s eyes focused on the floor as if she were tracing patterns on it.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
