patterns 1 of 2

plural of pattern
1
as in motifs
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) a coverlet with a nosegay of tiny pink roses as the pattern

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
as in layouts
the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged many of the artist's paintings use the same pattern of a lone figure surrounded by a vast landscape

Synonyms & Similar Words

patterns

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pattern

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of patterns
Noun
Brain networks—the stable patterns of communication that handle vision, attention, or our sense of self, and more—loosen and start talking to each other all at once. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026 Many attendees opted for all-black as well as strapless gowns, and off-the-shoulder dresses elevated by dark jewels, floral patterns, and mixed textures. — Aaron Royce, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026 Human evidence is limited to Bruns’s self-test, while full multicoloured patterns have been demonstrated in silicone and pig skin. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 These patterns likely reflect the beneficial impacts of the 1960s Great Society programs, followed by the post-1980 conservative and neoliberal backlash. — Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026 Sleep headbands track real-time brainwave patterns and respond with sound or vibration cues. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 Staff hid the books and the handful of computers, leaving only sewing patterns chalked on the board. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026 Hotels, as well as airports, are perfect places to test this technology because their electricity usage follows quite predictable patterns. — New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026 According to a new report on eating patterns in America by market research company Circana, nearly half of US adults are actively trying to consume more protein, from bars to whey powder to chicken breasts night after night. — Emily Laurence Sardinha, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patterns
Noun
  • Rooms feature lanais, rattan furniture, and carpeting with bamboo motifs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Floral motifs appear throughout the mosque’s floors and walls, while columns rise like flower stems, each inlaid with mother-of-pearl and semi-precious stones that climb toward capitals shaped like palm fronds.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cranor said a person’s risk depends on how often they are targeted, their security habits, their ability to recognize suspicious messages, and whether the lure really interests them.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Changing spending habits Other Democratic megadonors are simply cutting out the middleman, picking individual races and candidates to support.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Many executives, such as the CEOs of Starbucks and Chipotle for example, tout early-morning work routines as a key to their success.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • As the wife’s memory fades, the film watches love, loneliness and strain settle into the family’s daily routines.
    — Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The 128 is semi-custom, like previous models, meaning owners can pick from a wide array of interior finishes, layouts, and furnishings.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • PDFs can be converted to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text, HTML, PNG, and JPG while preserving original layouts, images, and hyperlinks.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Over that much time, the report finds, a building shapes the wellbeing, feelings, and forward momentum of the people living in it.
    — Jeffrey Ginsburg, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Growing up down south forever shapes your language, work ethic, appreciation for how hard life can be and so much more.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Opt for scalloped French tips with blue fresco detailing, or stripes the color of the Tuscan sun.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The Justice Department also says Beijing is determined to sway American public opinion in its favor by cultivating relationships with political figures seen as having access to the levers of power.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Forty-five percent of adults 30 to 44 say the same; both figures have declined in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Here are 16 satisfying activities and rituals to add to your fall bucket list.
    — Clare Marie Schneider, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Shunned by locals, who believe she is cursed, Eleni turns to ancient rituals to resurrect her dead offspring but instead summons malevolent folkloric creatures known as the Kalikantzari.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Patterns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patterns. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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