1 C1 idiomatic neutral
to locate someone or something after searching through clues, records, or evidence
"The reporter finally traced the witness down in a small coastal town."
separable
trace down
C1 neutral separable transitive
to find someone or something by following clues or records
In plain English
find something by carefully following signs or information
What does "trace down" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to follow a trace until reaching the thing itself
Actually means
find something by carefully following signs or information
Usage tip
Less common than 'track down'. Often used in investigative, historical, or technical contexts.
Words that pair with "trace down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
source owner document caller family origin
How to conjugate "trace down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
trace down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
traces down
he/she/it
Past simple
traced down
yesterday
Past participle
traced down
have + pp
-ing form
tracing down
continuous
Hear "trace down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "trace down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "trace down"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.