1
: a footprint whether recent or fossil
the huge track of a dinosaur
2
a
: detectable evidence (such as the wake of a ship, a line of footprints, or a wheel rut) that something has passed
b
: a path made by or as if by repeated footfalls : trail
c
: a course laid out especially for racing
d
: the parallel rails of a railroad
e(1)
: material recorded especially on or as if on a track
instrumental tracks
a bonus commentary track on a DVD
(2)
: one of a series of parallel or concentric paths along which material (such as music or information) is recorded (as on a phonograph record or magnetic tape)
(3)
: a group of grooves on a phonograph record containing recorded sound
f
: a usually metal way (such as a groove) serving as a guide (as for a movable lighting fixture)
3
a
: a sequence of events : a train of ideas : succession
b
: an awareness of a fact, progression, or condition
keep track of the costs
lose track of the time
4
: track-and-field sports
especially
: those performed on a running track
5
a
: the course along which something moves or progresses
b
: a way of life, conduct, or action
c
: one of several curricula of study to which students are assigned according to their needs or levels of ability
d
: the projection on the earth's surface of the path along which something (such as a missile or an airplane) has flown
6
a
: the width of a wheeled vehicle from wheel to wheel and usually from the outside of the rims
b
: the tread of an automobile tire
c
: either of two endless belts on which a tracklaying vehicle travels
tracked; tracking; tracks
1
2
a
: to follow by vestiges : trace
b
: to observe or plot the moving path of (something, such as a spacecraft or missile) often instrumentally
3
a
: to carry (mud or other material) on the feet and deposit
tracking mud into the kitchen
b
: to make tracks upon
4
: to keep track of (something, such as a trend) : follow
5
: to travel over : traverse
track a desert
1
: travel
a comet tracking eastward
2
a
of a pair of wheels
(1)
: to maintain a constant distance apart on the straightaway
(2)
: to fit a track or rails
b
of a rear wheel of a vehicle
: to follow accurately the corresponding fore wheel on a straightaway
c
of a phonograph needle
: to follow the groove undulations of a recording
3
: to leave tracks (as on a floor)
tracker
noun
Synonyms
Examples of track in a Sentence
Noun
Follow the track into the forest.
We were warned about walking beside the railroad tracks.
Verb
He tracked the deer for a mile.
The detectives tracked the killer to Arizona.
The ship can track incoming missiles with radar.
Meteorologists are tracking the storm.
The study tracked the patients over the course of five years.
The squadron will track north by northeast for 40 miles.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Sep. 2023
The pair intertwine their vocals on the remaining choruses on the track originally co-produced by Babyface, BLK Beats and The Rascals.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2023
Both are on track for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Festival observers praised Costello and Tonya Miller Hall, senior adviser in the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, for ensuring that Artscape remained on track and focused on local interests.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023
Addy Hunt, Wilmington — Coming off stellar winter and spring track seasons, the junior shined in her first-ever cross country meet Wednesday, securing first-place (20:00) in a 26-30 victory over Reading.
—Matty Wasserman, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Plus, fresh tracks from P Diddy, Becky G, and Anitta with Tomorrow X Together.
—Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2023
That 2011 track, co-written with songwriter Brett Beavers, eventually topped the country singles chart.
—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
Seven of the 16 drivers have won at the South Carolina track, most notably Denny Hamlin, who has four wins at Darlington, including two in the Southern 500.
—Ellen J. Horrow, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
And Travis [Kelce] is now tracking to play on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, despite the fact that he was just limited today.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023
The research also found hurricanes would track closer to the coasts including Boston, New York and Norfolk, Virginia, and more likely form along the Southeast coast, giving New Englanders less time to prepare.
—Michael Casey, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Police tracked the man to his Brunswick home and spoke to him from his porch.
—Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023
Last year, however, the Biden administration changed the definition of a firearm under federal law to include its pieces so they can be tracked more easily.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
Data from tracking service FlightAware showed that the Boeing 777 descended from 37,000 feet to less than 9,000 feet in eight minutes.
—Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
During negotiations, many companies simply neglect to establish who will be responsible for taking action on which tasks, how their progress will be tracked and measured, and how often their partners will be updated on progress.
—Byeamon Barrett, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
Haunting in Venice, from 20th Century Studios and Disney, is likewise tracking for a $13 million to $15 million domestic launch.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Throughout its 10 tracks, Illmatic consists of inner-city narratives based on Nas’ experiences growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York City.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Sep. 2023
The pair intertwine their vocals on the remaining choruses on the track originally co-produced by Babyface, BLK Beats and The Rascals.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Sep. 2023
Both are on track for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Festival observers praised Costello and Tonya Miller Hall, senior adviser in the Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, for ensuring that Artscape remained on track and focused on local interests.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2023
Addy Hunt, Wilmington — Coming off stellar winter and spring track seasons, the junior shined in her first-ever cross country meet Wednesday, securing first-place (20:00) in a 26-30 victory over Reading.
—Matty Wasserman, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2023
Plus, fresh tracks from P Diddy, Becky G, and Anitta with Tomorrow X Together.
—Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2023
That 2011 track, co-written with songwriter Brett Beavers, eventually topped the country singles chart.
—Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
Seven of the 16 drivers have won at the South Carolina track, most notably Denny Hamlin, who has four wins at Darlington, including two in the Southern 500.
—Ellen J. Horrow, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2023
Verb
After tracking the count on each charge, Paxton took off her reading glasses and rested her chin on her hand.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023
And Travis [Kelce] is now tracking to play on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, despite the fact that he was just limited today.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2023
The research also found hurricanes would track closer to the coasts including Boston, New York and Norfolk, Virginia, and more likely form along the Southeast coast, giving New Englanders less time to prepare.
—Michael Casey, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Police tracked the man to his Brunswick home and spoke to him from his porch.
—Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023
Last year, however, the Biden administration changed the definition of a firearm under federal law to include its pieces so they can be tracked more easily.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
Data from tracking service FlightAware showed that the Boeing 777 descended from 37,000 feet to less than 9,000 feet in eight minutes.
—Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
During negotiations, many companies simply neglect to establish who will be responsible for taking action on which tasks, how their progress will be tracked and measured, and how often their partners will be updated on progress.
—Byeamon Barrett, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
Haunting in Venice, from 20th Century Studios and Disney, is likewise tracking for a $13 million to $15 million domestic launch.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'track.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English trak, from Middle French trac
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Verb
1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of track was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing track
Dictionary Entries Near track
Cite this Entry
“Track.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/track. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
track
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a mark left by something that has gone by
b
c
: a path along which something is recorded (as on magnetic tape)
2
a
: a course laid out for racing
b
: the parallel rails of a railroad
3
: the course along which something moves or progresses
4
: awareness of things or the order in which things happen or ideas come
lose track of the time
keep track of expenses
5
: either of two continuous metal belts on which a vehicle (as a tank or bulldozer) travels
6
: track-and-field sports
especially
: those performed on a running track
track
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to follow the tracks or traces of : trail
track a deer
b
: to search for until found
tracking down the causes of cancer
2
: to observe the moving path of
track a missile with radar
3
: to make tracks upon or with
track up the floor
track mud all over the floor
tracker
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on track
Nglish: Translation of track for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of track for Arabic Speakers
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