track down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral. Common in both formal (e.g., investigative reports) and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “track down” mean?
To find someone or something after a prolonged or difficult search.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To find someone or something after a prolonged or difficult search.
To locate or discover information, evidence, or a source through systematic investigation; to pursue until found.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or grammatical use. The spelling of related nouns (e.g., 'traveller/traveler') does not affect the phrasal verb itself.
Connotations
Neutral in both variants. Connotes diligence and thoroughness.
Frequency
Equally common in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “track down” in a Sentence
transitive, separable (track sb/sth down)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “track down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The police are trying to track down the missing vehicle.
- She managed to track down her old university tutor.
- Can you track down the invoice from last July?
- Journalists tracked down the whistleblower for an interview.
American English
- The FBI tracked down the hacker.
- I need to track down that contractor's license number.
- We tracked down a great coffee shop in the neighborhood.
- He tracked down the original owner of the antique.
adverb
British English
- No established adverb form.
American English
- No established adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The tracked-down document proved crucial. (less common, past participle as adjective)
- No established adjective form.
American English
- The tracked-down suspect was arrested. (less common, past participle as adjective)
- No established adjective form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for finding suppliers, data, or market intelligence. 'We need to track down a more cost-effective manufacturer.'
Academic
Used in research contexts to locate sources or data. 'The historian tracked down several unpublished letters.'
Everyday
Common for finding lost items or contacting people. 'I finally tracked down that film we wanted to watch.'
Technical
Used in IT/digital contexts to find data, errors, or IP addresses. 'The IT team tracked down the source of the server error.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “track down”
- Using 'track down' for immediate, easy finds (e.g., 'I tracked down my keys on the table'). Incorrect: 'He tracked down the answer in the book' (if it was a quick, simple lookup).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral, acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. In very formal writing, 'locate' or 'trace' might be preferred.
Yes, it is very common. For example: 'We tracked down the statistics for the report.'
'Track down' emphasizes the process of searching, often implying difficulty, persistence, or investigation. 'Find' is more general and neutral.
It is a phrasal verb, always written as two words: 'track down'. The noun form (less common) is 'trackdown' (one word), as in 'The trackdown of the suspect lasted weeks.'
To find someone or something after a prolonged or difficult search.
Track down: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtræk ˈdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtræk ˈdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a detective following TRACKS (footprints/clues) DOWN a path until they find the target.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUNTING IS SEARCHING (pursuing prey until captured).
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best illustrates the meaning of 'track down'?