trailing
Coming up last
Trailing describes something that follows behind or hangs down loosely.
A trailing vine grows along the ground or drapes from a container.
In competition, the trailing team is behind in score.
Trailing edge refers to the rear portion of a moving object, especially an aircraft wing.
As a verb form, it captures the action of following: The detective spent weeks trailing the suspect.
Coming after another
- chasingFollowing to catch
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- tailingSecretly following someone
- shadowingFollowing to observe
pursuing · stalking · hunting · hounding · dogging · tracing · on the heels of · in pursuit
Failing to keep pace
end · straggling · bringing up the rear · hindmost · rearward · posterior · aft · following
At the rear
- losingFailing to win
- deficitAmount still owed
- underperformingDoing worse than expected
- downToward lower ground
shortfall · gap · margin · catching up · second place · outpaced · outscored · underdogs
Moving slowly, stealthily
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- sprawlingSpread irregularly outward
- viningGrowing in trailing stems
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
spreading · crawling · meandering · twining · snaking · weaving · curling · extending
following
Coming after another
shadowing · pursuing · stalking · hunting · hounding · dogging · tracing · on the heels of · in pursuit · surveillance
lagging
Failing to keep pace
tail · end · straggling · bringing up the rear · hindmost · rearward · posterior · aft · following · backmost
behind
At the rear
- losingFailing to win
- deficitAmount still owed
- underperformingDoing worse than expected
down · shortfall · gap · margin · catching up · second place · outpaced · outscored · underdogs
creeping
Moving slowly, stealthily
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- sprawlingSpread irregularly outward
- viningGrowing in trailing stems
rambling · spreading · crawling · meandering · twining · snaking · weaving · curling · extending · reaching
hanging
Execution by noose
flowing · sweeping · draping · brushing · skimming · floating · fluttering · billowing · rippling · cascading
falling
Moving downward freely
- droppingLetting something fall
- decreasingBecoming smaller or fewer
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
slipping · sliding · weakening · fading · waning · ebbing · dwindling · shrinking · tapering · subsiding
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- stealthsneak, ninja, creep, spy, skulk
- plant traitsthorny, spiny, evergreen, deciduous, flowering
- fabric drapingdraping, cascade, gathering, pleating, ruching
- plant growthbloom, bud, buds, flower, fruit
- pursuitchase, chasing, pursuit, chase down, pursue
trailingleading
Guiding or pacing type
ahead · in front · foremost · out in front · frontrunning
trailingleading
Guiding or pacing type
ahead · winning · dominating · out front · prevailing
- trailing offGradually becoming inaudible
- trailing behindFollowing at a distance
- trailing plantFoliage that hangs downward
- trailing awayGradually becoming fainter
- trailing spousePartner who relocates for spouse's job
- trailing edgeRear border of airfoil