trend

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrend 

1

a

: a prevailing tendency or inclination : drift

current trends in education

b

: a general movement : swing

the trend toward suburban living

c

: a current style or preference : vogue

new fashion trends

d

: a line of development : approach

new trends in cancer research

2

: the general movement over time of a statistically detectable change

also : a statistical curve reflecting such a change

3

: a line of general direction or movement

the trend of the coast turned toward the west

trend

2 of 2

verb

trended; trending; trends

intransitive verb

1

a

: to show a tendency : incline

prices trending upward

b

: to become deflected : shift

opinions trending toward conservatism

2

a

: to extend in a general direction : follow a general course

mountain ranges trending north and south

b

: to veer in a new direction : bend

a coastline that trends westward

3

: to generate or attract a lot of interest or attention especially online and in social media

a trending news story

… a database that combs about 42 sources, including blogs, social media, peer-to-peer sites, video destinations, Twitter and popular Web sites to present a complete view of how brands, topics and ideas are trending online.

—Daisy Whitney

Synonyms

Noun

• current
• direction
• drift
• leaning
• run
• tendency
• tide
• wind

Verb

• incline
• lean
• run
• tend

Choose the Right Synonym for trend

tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction.

tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces

the drift of the population away from large cities

or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

got the drift of her argument

tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

Examples of trend in a Sentence

Noun

the downward trend of the stock market

Digital technology is the latest trend in television.

There is a disturbing trend toward obesity in children.

Verb

during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake

the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This signing continues the Chiefs’ offseason trend of running things back on defense after last year’s strong season. —Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2024

This is the web version of CFO Daily, a newsletter on the trends and individuals shaping corporate finance. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Amidst the current phase of accelerated transformation, one noticeable trend is the increasing demand for AI expertise, even as other tech job listings decline. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 5 Apr. 2024

According to the research, money (or lack thereof) is the main driving force behind the trend, with inflation adding around $1,250 a year to households’ annual bills. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 5 Apr. 2024

The high prices for the women's Final Four are a continuation of a trend that began last year, according to the ticket resale platform StubHub. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024

Of course, the thing about demographic trends is that every group will probably move one way or the other, even if only by small margins, compared to the last election. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: Extrapolating the slow upward trend, SeaWorld will eventually surpass old attendance records. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2024

Today’s Paper | Subscribe Explore Our Style Coverage The latest in fashion, trends, love and more. —Mattie Kahn, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024

Verb

New map reveals Hoosiers could see less of the solar eclipse John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Airbnb named upstate New York — including Lake Placid, Buffalo, Rochester and Niagara — at the top of its list of trending domestic destinations for U.S. travelers ahead of the eclipse. —Erin Clements, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024

How today's event stacks up to past quakes Christopher Brito Christopher Brito is a social media manager and trending content writer for CBS News. —Christopher Brito, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

For price ranges above $400,000, the market is trending more in the buyer’s favor. —Jackie Reed, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2024

The band trended on X on Wednesday, as users chimed in with suggestions for other Fleetwood Mac songs to listen to. —Moises Mendez Ii, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

Katie Wiseman is a trending news intern at IndyStar. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2024

The wind calms down a bit this afternoon, and Monday and Tuesday trend a touch milder with light winds. —Molly Robey, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2024

Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to turn, revolve, from Old English trendan; akin to Middle High German trendel disk, spinning top

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1777, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing trend

• counter-trend
• trend-setting
• trend spotter
• trend-setter
• sub-trend
• set/start a (new) trend
• trend-spotting

Kids Definition

trend

1 of 2 verb

ˈtrend 

1

: to extend in a general direction

2

: to show a tendency : incline

trend

2 of 2 noun

1

: general direction taken

the easterly trend of the shoreline

2

a

: a general tendency or movement

economic trends

b

: a current style or liking

new fashion trends