Monitor vs. Track: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 28, 2023
"Monitor" means to observe or check the progress or quality of something, while "Track" means to follow the course or movement of something or someone.
Key Differences
"Monitor" and "Track" are two verbs that convey the idea of following or observing something. However, their usages and implications can vary based on context.
To "Monitor" typically means to continuously watch over or assess a situation, process, or system. It often suggests an ongoing observation to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. On the other hand, to "Track" means to follow the path or movement of an object or individual, often to determine its location or trajectory.
When one monitors a patient's heart rate, it means they are continuously observing and perhaps recording the heart's behavior. Tracking, in contrast, could be seen when one follows the route a package takes through the mail system.
Additionally, "Monitor" can also refer to an electronic screen displaying information. Meanwhile, "Track" has varied meanings, like a path or the act of recording an audio track.
While both words share similarities in the realm of observation, "Monitor" leans towards steady surveillance or checking, whereas "Track" suggests following a movement or path.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To observe or check the progress or quality.
To follow the course or movement.
Part of Speech
Noun/Verb
Noun/Verb
Focus
Continuous observation.
Following movement or path.
Duration
Can be long-term.
Can be momentary or long-term.
Tangibility
Often pertains to abstract or non-physical scenarios.
Can relate to physical movements or trajectories.
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Monitor and Track Definitions
Monitor
To observe a situation or process over time.
Doctors will monitor the patient's condition closely.
Track
To keep a record or chronicle of events.
Journalists track major world events closely.
Monitor
A person or device that checks or oversees a situation.
A quality monitor ensured the products met standards.
Track
A specific segment of a recording or song.
That album's best track is its opening song.
Monitor
To keep track of a situation using specialized equipment.
Scientists monitor seismic activity for potential earthquakes.
Track
A mark or succession of marks left by something that has passed.
Monitor
One that admonishes, cautions, or reminds, especially with respect to matters of conduct.
Track
A path, route, or course indicated by such marks
An old wagon track through the mountains.
Monitor
A pupil who assists a teacher in routine duties.
Track
A path along which something moves; a course
Following the track of an airplane on radar.
Monitor
A usually electronic device used to record, regulate, or control a process or system.
Track
A course of action; a method of proceeding
On the right track for solving the puzzle.
Monitor
A video display or speaker used in a production studio to check audio or video quality
The sound engineer detected a hiss on the monitor.
Track
An intended or proper course
Putting a stalled project back on track.
Monitor
(Computers)A device that accepts video signals from a computer and displays information on a screen; a video display.
Track
A succession of ideas; a train of thought.
Monitor
(Computers)A program that observes, supervises, or controls the activities of other programs.
Track
Awareness of something occurring or passing
Keeping track of the score.
Lost all track of time.
Monitor
An articulated device holding a rotating nozzle with which a jet of water is regulated, used in mining and firefighting.
Track
A course laid out for running or racing.
Monitor
A heavily ironclad warship of the 19th century with a low, flat deck and one or more gun turrets.
Track
Athletic competition on such a course; track events.
Monitor
A modern warship designed for coastal bombardment.
Track
Track and field.
Monitor
See monitor lizard.
Track
A rail or set of parallel rails upon which railroad cars or other vehicles run.
Monitor
To check the quality or content of (an electronic audio or visual signal) by means of a receiver.
Track
Tracks The boundary, formerly often delineated by train tracks, that separates two neighborhoods of different social class
Grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.
Monitor
To check by means of an electronic receiver for significant content, such as military, political, or illegal activity
Monitor a suspected criminal's phone conversations.
Track
Either of the continuous metal belts with which vehicles such as bulldozers and tanks move over the ground.
Monitor
To keep track of systematically with a view to collecting information
Monitor the bear population of a national park.
Monitored the political views of the people.
Track
A metal groove or ridge that holds, guides, and reduces friction for a moving device or apparatus.
Monitor
To test or sample, especially on a regular or ongoing basis
Monitored the city's drinking water for impurities.
Track
Any of several courses of study to which students are assigned according to ability, achievement, or needs
Academic, vocational, and general tracks.
Monitor
To keep close watch over; supervise
Monitor an examination.
Track
A distinct path, as along a length of film or magnetic tape, on which sound, images, or other information is recorded.
Monitor
To direct.
Track
A distinct selection from an audio or video recording, usually containing an individual work or part of a larger work
The title track of an album.
Monitor
To act as a monitor.
Track
One of two or more separate recordings that are combined so as to be replayed simultaneously, as in stereophonic sound reproduction
Mixed the vocal track and instrumental track.
Monitor
Someone who watches over something; a person in charge of something or someone.
The camp monitors look after the children during the night, when the teachers are asleep.
Track
One of the concentric magnetic rings that form the separate data storage areas on a floppy disk or a hard disk.
Monitor
A device that detects and informs on the presence, quantity, etc., of something.
Track
A set of digital data encoded consecutively on an optical disc.
Monitor
(computing) A device similar to a television set used as to give a graphical display of the output from a computer.
The information flashed up on the monitor.
Track
Tracks(Slang) Needle marks on the skin from multiple intravenous injections, considered an indication of habitual drug use.
Monitor
A studio monitor or loudspeaker.
Track
To follow the tracks of; trail
Tracking game through the forest.
Monitor
(computing) A program for viewing and editing.
A machine code monitor
Track
To leave marks made of (dirt or mud, for example) on a surface
The dog tracked mud on the rug.
Monitor
A student leader in a class.
Track
To leave marks on (a floor, for example) when moving or traversing
You're tracking up my nice clean floor!.
Monitor
(nautical) One of a class of relatively small armored warships with only one or two turrets (but often carrying unusually large guns for a warship of its size), usually designed for shore bombardment or riverine warfare rather than open-ocean combat. from 1862
Track
To observe or monitor the course of (an aircraft, for example), as by radar.
Monitor
(archaic) An ironclad.
Track
To observe the progress of; follow
Tracking the company's performance daily.
Monitor
A monitor lizard.
Track
To determine or discover the location or origin of
Tracked the money to an offshore account.
Monitor
(obsolete) One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution.
Track
To equip with a track.
Monitor
(engineering) A tool holder, as for a lathe, shaped like a low turret, and capable of being revolved on a vertical pivot so as to bring the several tools successively into position.
Track
To assign (a student) to a curricular track.
Monitor
A monitor nozzle.
Track
To follow a course; travel
The storm is tracking up the coast.
Monitor
(transitive) To watch over; to guard.
Track
To keep a constant distance apart. Used of a pair of wheels.
Monitor
One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution.
You need not be a monitor to the king.
Track
To be in alignment
The gears are not tracking properly.
Monitor
Hence, specifically, a pupil selected to look to the school in the absence of the instructor, to notice the absence or faults of the scholars, or to instruct a division or class.
Track
To follow the undulations in the groove of a phonograph record. Used of a needle.
Monitor
Any large Old World lizard of the genus Varanus; esp., the Egyptian species (Varanus Niloticus), which is useful because it devours the eggs and young of the crocodile. It is sometimes five or six feet long.
Track
To move across magnetic heads. Used of magnetic tape.
Monitor
An ironclad war vessel, very low in the water, and having one or more heavily-armored revolving turrets, carrying heavy guns.
Track
To move in relation to a subject being filmed. Used of a camera or camera crew.
Monitor
A tool holder, as for a lathe, shaped like a low turret, and capable of being revolved on a vertical pivot so as to bring successively the several tools in holds into proper position for cutting.
Track
A mark left by something that has passed along.
Follow the track of the ship.
Can you see any tracks in the snow?
Monitor
A monitor nozzle.
Track
A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or animal.
The fox tracks were still visible in the snow.
Monitor
Display consisting of a device that takes signals from a computer and displays them on a CRT screen
Track
The entire lower surface of the foot; said of birds, etc.
Monitor
Someone who supervises (an examination)
Track
A road or other similar beaten path.
Follow the track for a hundred metres.
Monitor
Someone who gives a warning so that a mistake can be avoided
Track
Physical course; way.
Astronomers predicted the track of the comet.
Monitor
An iron-clad vessel built by Federal forces to do battle with the Merrimac
Track
A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc.
The athletes ran round the track.
Monitor
Electronic equipment that is used to check the quality or content of electronic transmissions
Track
The direction and progress of someone or something; path.
Monitor
A piece of electronic equipment that keeps track of the operation of a system continuously and warns of trouble
Track
(railways) The way or rails along which a train moves. Category:en:Rail transportation
They briefly closed the railway to remove debris found on the track.
Monitor
Any of various large tropical carnivorous lizards of Africa and Asia and Australia; fabled to warn of crocodiles
Track
A tract or area, such as of land.
Monitor
Keep tabs on; keep an eye on; keep under surveillance
Track
(slang) The street, as a prostitute's place of work.
Monitor
An electronic screen for displaying data or visuals.
He adjusted the brightness of his computer monitor.
Track
Awareness of something, especially when arising from close monitoring.
Monitor
To check the quality or content of media broadcasts.
They hired a team to monitor radio transmissions.
Track
(automotive) The distance between two opposite wheels on a same axletree.
Track
(automotive) caterpillar track
Track
(cricket) The pitch.
Track
Sound stored on a record.
Track
The physical track on a record.
Track
(music) A song or other relatively short piece of music, on a record, separated from others by a short silence.
My favourite track on the album is "Sunshine".
Track
A circular (never-ending) data storage unit on a side of magnetic or optical disk, divided into sectors.
Track
The racing events of track and field; track and field in general.
I'm going to try out for track next week.
Track
A themed set of talks within a conference.
Track
Clipping of trackshoe
Track
To continue over time.
Track
(transitive) To observe the (measured) state of a person or object over time.
We will track the raven population over the next six months.
Track
(transitive) To monitor the movement of a person or object.
Agent Miles has been tracking the terrorist since Madrid.
Track
(transitive) To match the movement or change of a person or object.
My height tracks my father's at my age, so I might end up as tall as him.
Track
To travel so that a moving object remains in shot.
The camera tracked the ball even as the field of play moved back and forth, keeping the action in shot the entire time.
Track
To move.
The hurricane tracked further west than expected.
Track
(transitive) To traverse; to move across.
Track
(transitive) To tow.
Track
(intransitive) To exhibit good cognitive function.
Is the patient tracking? Does he know where he is?
Track
(transitive) To follow the tracks of.
My uncle spent all day tracking the deer, whose hoofprints were clear in the mud.
Track
(transitive) To discover the location of a person or object by following traces.
I tracked Joe to his friend's bedroom, where he had spent the night.
Track
(transitive) To make tracks on or to leave in the form of tracks.
In winter, my cat tracks mud all over the house.
Track
To create a musical recording (a track).
Lil Kyle is gonna track with that DJ next week.
Track
To create music using tracker software.
Track
To make sense; to be consistent with known information
Track
A mark left by something that has passed along; as, the track, or wake, of a ship; the track of a meteor; the track of a sled or a wheel.
The bright track of his fiery car.
Track
A mark or impression left by the foot, either of man or beast; trace; vestige; footprint.
Far from track of men.
Track
The entire lower surface of the foot; - said of birds, etc.
Track
A road; a beaten path.
Behold Torquatus the same track pursue.
Track
Course; way; as, the track of a comet.
Track
A path or course laid out for a race, for exercise, etc.
Track
The permanent way; the rails.
Track
A tract or area, as of land.
Track
To follow the tracks or traces of; to pursue by following the marks of the feet; to trace; to trail; as, to track a deer in the snow.
It was often found impossible to track the robbers to their retreats among the hills and morasses.
Track
To draw along continuously, as a vessel, by a line, men or animals on shore being the motive power; to tow.
Track
A line or route along which something travels or moves;
The hurricane demolished houses in its path
The track of an animal
The course of the river
Track
Evidence pointing to a possible solution;
The police are following a promising lead
The trail led straight to the perpetrator
Track
A pair of parallel rails providing a runway for wheels
Track
A course over which races are run
Track
A distinct selection of music from a recording or a compact disc;
He played the first cut on the cd
The title track of the album
Track
An endless metal belt on which tracked vehicles move over the ground
Track
(computer science) one of the circular magnetic paths on a magnetic disk that serve as a guide for writing and reading data
Track
A groove on a phonograph recording
Track
A bar or bars of rolled steel making a track along which vehicles can roll
Track
Any road or path affording passage especially a rough one
Track
The act of participating in an athletic competition involving running on a track
Track
Carry on the feet and deposit;
Track mud into the house
Track
Observe or plot the moving path of something;
Track a missile
Track
Go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
The dog chased the rabbit
Track
Travel across or pass over;
The caravan covered almost 100 miles each day
Track
Make tracks upon
Track
A path or route followed by something or someone.
The detective followed the track of the suspect.
Track
To pursue with the aim to catch or discover.
He tracked the source of the leak in the ceiling.
Track
A pair of parallel lines on which a train runs.
The express train runs on the fast track.
FAQs
Is a "Track" always related to movement?
Not always, it can refer to a segment of a recording or song.
What's "track and field"?
It's a sport that includes running races and field events.
Can "Monitor" imply a supervisory role?
Yes, someone can monitor as a form of supervision or oversight.
Can "Monitor" refer to health situations?
Yes, like monitoring one's heart rate.
Is a "Monitor" always electronic?
No, it can be a person observing a situation as well.
Can animals "track" by scent?
Yes, many animals track using their sense of smell.
Can "Monitor" be used as a noun?
Yes, as in a computer monitor.
Can "Monitor" have a protective implication?
Yes, monitoring can be done to ensure safety or compliance.
Does "Track" always mean to follow physically?
No, it can also mean to keep a record or chronicle of events.
How does "monitoring software" function?
It observes and logs activities on a computer or network.
How do you "lose track" of something?
It means to no longer be aware of something's status or position.
Can "Track" be used in educational contexts?
Yes, as in tracking a student's progress or an educational path.
What does "off the beaten track" mean?
It refers to a place that's remote or not frequently visited.
How is "Monitor" used in environmental contexts?
It can refer to observing environmental conditions or changes.
What is a "soundtrack"?
It's the music accompanying a movie or show.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
