Systems and methods for selecting objects by tracing the paths the objects traverse on a display. An object moving across a display screen does so along a particular path. Users may trace the shape of this path, such as by outlining the shape of the path with their finger or other device on a touch sensitive screen, moving a cursor with, e.g., a mouse, moving a motion-sensitive screen, or the like. The display may match the shape of the user's traced path to the shape of an object's path. Objects whose paths are shaped sufficiently similar to the user's traced path may then be selected. In this manner, users may select an object by tracing the path it takes, rather than directly picking or touching the object itself. This allows users an additional method for selecting displayed objects, improving the flexibility of many displays and programs run thereon.