trade 1 of 2

1
as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another when the other team unexpectedly offered to hand over its top pitcher for our star shortstop, our coach agreed to the trade

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2
as in craft
an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking

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3
4
as in commerce
the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places a bill regulating trade with that country

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5
as in sale
the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price the trade of all of her holdings in the company just before the stock plunged in value immediately aroused suspicions

Synonyms & Similar Words

trade

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trade distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of trade are business, commerce, industry, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

In what contexts can business take the place of trade?

The words business and trade can be used in similar contexts, but business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

When could industry be used to replace trade?

The words industry and trade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When can traffic be used instead of trade?

While in some cases nearly identical to trade, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

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 trade
Noun
After the trade that sent Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers resulted in a pay increase for the star cornerback, rumors have started rumbling about a possible Watt trade. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 Waller is coming out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins, who made a trade with the New York Giants to get him in the building before training camp, according to multiple reports Tuesday. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
Maddux finished his career with L.A. – alongside the rookie Kershaw in 2008 – and Pedro Martinez started his career with the Dodgers before being traded to Montreal for Delino DeShields after the 1993 season. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 4 July 2025 On one hand, good enough to possibly be traded for Durant. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for trade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade
Noun
  • Both exchanges happened in front of witnesses, including a husband of one of the women, according to the letter.
    Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 July 2025
  • For concentrated stock positions, consider tax-efficient strategies like exchange funds or gradual diversification to spread risk.
    Mike Mess, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Kids can enjoy a magic show starring Christopher T. Magician and participate in various crafts and activities.
    Sharon Hlapcich, Oc Register, 10 July 2025
  • Featuring knit and crochet items, baby quilts, floral arrangements, jewelry and wooden crafts.
    Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Moreover, his commitment to the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship demonstrates respect for a key tenet of the profession of medicine.
    Arthur L. Kellermann, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
  • Any profession can corrupt its practitioners — and arts critics are no exception.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Conducting or participating in the conduct through a pattern of racketeering activity of such affairs of an enterprise affecting interstate commerce.
    Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • In addition to flood damage, April’s extreme weather also disrupted commerce — shutting down highways, closing locks and dam systems on the Ohio River, and pushing UPS to take the rare step of suspending some operations at the Louisville Worldport, the company’s largest global air hub.
    Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • Skechers is a popular walking shoe brand with several styles on sale right now, including slip-on shoes from the Martha Stewart collection.
    Shalwah Evans, People.com, 6 July 2025
  • The sales event begins at 12 a.m. PDT/3 a.m. EDT on July 8.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • As for the second-round picks dealt, each previously was gained in trades, one from the Max Strus sign-and-trade transaction with the Cleveland Cavaliers, one from last season’s trade of Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 2025
  • Update: This article was updated on July 11, 2025 to note that Ferrero and its affiliates have acquired at least 21 companies in 9 countries since 2015, with eight deals in the U.S. since 2017 before the WK Kellogg deal.
    Giacomo Tognini, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • Typically support is limited, either by a sole that’s too rigid to go flat, a sole that’s too flexible for a safe heel, or a mechanism that lacks the ability to swap the heels.
    Yola Robert, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Alternatively, the North American Lily Society suggests placing a short, sturdy stake at planting, then swapping it out for a tall stake (using the same hole) as the lily grows.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Biographer Robin Givhan talks about how Virgil Abloh, the dynamic, game-changing subject of her latest work, broke barriers, changed paradigms, and reshaped the worlds of fashion and art, with a special nod to the role of Black music and themes of freedom and joy.
    Essence, Essence, 7 July 2025
  • The agency is targeting professionals at the intersection of arts and technology for recruitment, CIA officers told The Times, and continues to cooperate with entertainment giants to inspire the next generation of creative spies.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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