Definition of trainnext
1
as in entourage
a body of employees or servants who accompany and wait on a person a movie star who never goes anywhere without a train of personal assistants to cater to his every whim and need

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2
as in fleet
a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management a train of supply trucks making its way to the army encampment

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3
as in queue
a series of persons or things arranged one behind another already a long train of ticket buyers waiting outside the stadium

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4

train

2 of 2

verb

1
2
3
as in to focus
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective train all your thoughts on imagining how you'd score the winning goal in the game

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4
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal trained his eyes on the distant bull's-eye

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in to equip
to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function he's so experienced that they usually use him to train new recruits

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word train different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of train are discipline, educate, instruct, school, and teach. While all these words mean "to cause to acquire knowledge or skill," train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

When is discipline a more appropriate choice than train?

While the synonyms discipline and train are close in meaning, discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

a disciplined mind

When could educate be used to replace train?

In some situations, the words educate and train are roughly equivalent. However, educate implies development of the mind.

more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

When is it sensible to use instruct instead of train?

The synonyms instruct and train are sometimes interchangeable, but instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

instructs raw recruits in military drill

Where would school be a reasonable alternative to train?

While in some cases nearly identical to train, school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

schooled the horse in five gaits

When might teach be a better fit than train?

Although the words teach and train have much in common, teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

taught us a lot about our planet

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of train
Noun
As the train caught fire, a northbound train arrived at the station and discharged its passengers. Ahmad Hemingway, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 The bride’s veil measured 39 feet, and her train became the longest ever worn at a British royal wedding. Eliza Prosperini, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
The weather changes also affect overall quality, especially for the Musang King variety, which is sensitive to weather conditions, said Lim Chin Khee, an adviser to the Durian Academy, which trains durian growers in Malaysia. ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 In the noir tradition, Harper’s writing trains us not to set our hopes too high. Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for train
Recent Examples of Synonyms for train
Noun
  • Cash conferred with members of his entourage and his wife and costar, June Carter Cash, across a long table as roadies readied the stage and the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, and the rockabilly singer Carl Perkins prepared for their sets.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Emma’s entourage gathered for the bride to make her big reveal in her wedding gown.
    Shelby Wax, Vogue, 26 July 2026
Noun
  • The last of the new subs isn’t due to join the fleet until 2038.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • NetJets, the unit of Berkshire Hathaway, which also owns aircraft management firm Executive Jet Management, is the largest operator in the world with over 1,100 aircraft between its fractional and managed fleets.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Contact centers are no longer just the domain of legacy CCaaS platforms patched together with IVR, queues, and ticketing.
    Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The businesses that have figured this out — the ones with performers in the queue, immersive environments, or lines that have become destinations in themselves — aren’t just reducing the pain of waiting.
    Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 31 July 2026
Noun
  • The statement came after Roth detailed a sequence in the film to Polygon that features a cartoon that seemingly hypnotizes children, turning them into murderers.
    Corbin Bolies, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Whether sampling becomes a formal stage of the release sequence will depend on evidence that free exposure creates incremental demand rather than simply shifting where existing fans watch.
    Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Below, shop nine incredible beauty products straight from her shelf and prepare to get healthy, smooth, and absolutely glowing skin.
    Olivia Cefalu, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Millions across Europe, the Arctic, and North America are preparing for a spectacular total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hensley was introduced to the fiddle early in life when her father taught her how to carve and play the instrument, according to local news outlet KY3.
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
  • My Indigenous aunties on my dad’s side taught both her and my mother.
    Kelly Ryan Kegans, Midwest Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The project, which involves a partnership between the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and other researchers, focuses on collecting floating coral egg and sperm bundles.
    Joan Murray, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Andrew’s research now largely focuses on how brain function is associated with various mental states—in particular, religious and mystical experiences.
    Big Think, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Houthis say closing Bab el-Mandeb to Saudi traffic aims to break the coalition’s blockade.
    Fatma Khaled, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The scores carry over, promising a fierce battle for the national title, with Rivera aiming for multiple championships.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Train.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/train. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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