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
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
  • The store is also offering personalization services, where their artisans gold-stamp diaries, notebooks and leather styles with initials and playful motifs.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Taking a cue from Dante himself, Curci also borrowed motifs from popular mythology.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Adding an item to the platform has been designed to fit existing digital habits.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Instead of pulling back altogether, consumers are changing their shopping habits by trading down to lower-price brands and stores, shopping earlier and relying more on credit cards and buy now pay later plans, Eshelman said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Banana Ball combines baseball with dance routines, trick plays and fan interaction.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Aaron Button is a programmable shortcut system made up of three buttons built into Pitaka’s Edge smartphone case that can be used to trigger smart home routines, activate AI tools, control connected devices, and more.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Attendees can also compare boats and layouts, meet manufacturers and dealers and find resources for every stage of the sailing journey.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The team also tested PASSAGE on a Unitree G1 humanoid robot across 50 previously unseen physical layouts.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • France, unlike the United States, places strict limits on campaign spending, but money still shapes the broader political ecosystem.
    — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • What’s popular online increasingly shapes what ends up on store shelves, as brands race to meet the demand that viral aesthetics create.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 15 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
  • Dante populated his realms of Hell and Purgatory with figures, monsters and moral frameworks borrowed directly from classical Greek and Roman myths.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Of late, Holloway’s inspirations have included figures from history, music stars, actors and socialites such as the Duke of Windsor, Bryan Ferry and Charlie Watts.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 13 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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