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

• tide
• direction
• tendency

Verb

• tend
• lean

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

The trend for wide and baggy jeans continued, especially styles that were ripped and shredded. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 July 2025

These trends illustrate attackers’ growing interest in exploiting less secure communication channels—and, in turn, highlight the need for security teams to do more to defend them. —Eyal Benishti, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025

Verb

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 10 July 2025

Contributing: Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 10 July 2025

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

Rhymes for trend

• blend
• blende
• denned
• end
• fend
• friend
• lend
• mend
• penned
• send
• spend
• tend

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