What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
surveil
Example
The police were surveilling the suspect's house for any suspicious activity. [surveilling: gerund or present participle]
Example
The security cameras were used to surveil the store and prevent theft. [surveil: verb]
track
Example
The hiker used a GPS device to track their progress along the trail. [track: verb]
Example
The company tracks its inventory levels to ensure it has enough stock. [tracks: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Track is more commonly used than surveil in everyday language. Track is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while surveil is less common and often associated with security or surveillance-related topics.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between surveil and track?
Both surveil and track can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, surveil may be perceived as more formal due to its association with security or surveillance-related topics.