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

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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
Investigators said the notes contained distinctive writing patterns and asked anyone who recognized the style to contact authorities. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026 The model then generated repeating radio-pulse patterns designed to be as different as possible from the surrounding pulsar signals while minimizing energy consumption. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026 The building already has materials, dimensions, defects, histories, neighbors, owners, previous uses, and established patterns of maintenance or neglect. — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026 When soil remains saturated for extended periods, oxygen becomes limited and chemical changes can create distinctive colors and patterns. — Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026 With the stock trading at a substantial discount to its historical patterns even as its core business continues to grow, investors don't need to assume a large contribution from tokenization or AI for the valuation to look attractive. — Isabella Gao, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 For the work, Harvey drew on ancient jewelry in the Met collection from Greece, India, and China, and then spent time in the Manufacture learning guillochage, a technique for engraving intricate patterns like leaves and flowers onto metal. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2026 New research suggests that several different healthy eating patterns, including the Mediterranean and DASH diets, could lower this elevated risk. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Oct. 2026 According to Macfarlane, the current El Niño is following patterns similar to the 2023 and 2024 El Niño seasons. — Hali Smith october 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patterns
Noun
  • Drawing upon classic English country house motifs, her own family memories, and the blazing colors of New England fall, the star designer has conjured a series of instant heirlooms.
    — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Swirling green paisley-likefloral motifs decorated the beige-gold fabric, with patches of rusty orange and deeper green throughout.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • And also like the fat bears of Katmai, every bear here has their own habits and quirks.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Disney+ and Netflix‘s buying habits appear to be dispelling the notion that non-English-language acquisitions aren’t on their agendas.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Sun enters your 6th House, beginning a month focused on routines, responsibilities, health, work, and the systems that keep everything moving.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Wearables like the Apple Watch, Oura Ring and Fitbit have fed the behavior by letting users experiment with their routines and measure what works.
    — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Although the port layouts on Googlebooks vary, most provide more hardwired connections than MacBooks do.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Riding Modes Pro introduces a customizable Race Pro mode, along with three additional Sport display layouts showing data such as traction-control intervention, braking force and lean angle.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Patel-Dunn told CNBC that 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise four or five times a week can measurably improve mood, a signal of how much daily behavior shapes seasonal mental health, and how early rituals compound across the darker months.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The documentary angle, of course, is this great director probing the ethics in his own vocation as an intrusive force, one that shapes lives, emotions and, in this case, the weight of a genuine tragedy.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 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 cost figures draw on the Family Budget Calculator developed by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute from federal data on rents, food costs and consumer spending, with The Post’s own health care estimates.
    — Amy L. Wong, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Another star turn goes to Mary Ellen Pleasant, who was arguably America’s first Black millionaire and inarguably one of the most canny and chameleonlike figures this country has ever produced.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Remembrance rituals could grow more personal and less performative.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Long used in pagan rituals and spell casting—typically placed on dedicated altars—candles are seen as the bridge between the physical and spiritual realms.
    — Francesca Perry, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Patterns.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patterns. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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