trailing

/ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
noun
  1. The act of following or pursuing someone or something.
    • The spy was skilled at trailing without being noticed.
    • Trailing is a common technique used in wildlife photography.
    • The detective's trailing of the suspect took several days.
verb
  1. To follow or go after someone or something, often at a distance.
    • The dog was trailing behind its owner on the walk.
    • Police officers trailed the suspect through the crowded market.
    • We trailed the hikers for an hour before catching up.
  2. To be losing in a competition or contest.
    • The candidate trailed in the polls for most of the campaign.
    • She trailed her opponent by two sets in the tennis match.
    • Our team is trailing by three points with only five minutes left.
  3. To drag or allow something to hang down loosely behind.
    • The bride's veil was trailing on the floor as she walked.
    • The kite's tail was trailing behind it in the wind.
    • He trailed his fingers in the water from the side of the boat.
  4. To move slowly or wearily, often because of tiredness or lack of energy.
    • After the long hike, the children trailed wearily up the stairs.
    • The injured bird trailed along the ground, unable to fly.
    • She trailed behind the group, exhausted from the early start.
Antonyms
adjective
  1. Growing or hanging down loosely, often used for plants.
    • The garden had beautiful trailing ivy covering the wall.
    • She planted trailing flowers in the hanging baskets.
    • The trailing branches of the willow tree touched the pond.
  2. Following or coming after something else, especially in a sequence or position.
    • We could see the trailing edge of the storm on the radar.
    • The trailing car in the race had engine trouble.
    • The trailing group of hikers stopped for a rest.