trade 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrād How to pronounce trade (audio)
Definition of tradenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living writing is my trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

1
as in to deal
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property the U.S. agreed to trade with China

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return I'll trade my chocolate chip cookie for your bag of chips

Synonyms & Similar Words

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.

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
Immediately upon making the trade, OutKick confirmed that Greenard and the Eagles reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension worth $100 million. —Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 American officials have closed southern ports of entry to livestock trade. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
Sets from upstarts like Creepy Nuts, Pawsa, Geese and Slayyyter, along with emphatic crowds at rock heavyweights like Jack White, Turnstile and even Sombr, traded seamlessness and precision for immediacy and friction — louder, looser, more physical in ways that were best felt than watched. —Andrea Domanick, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026 One option is circling back to the Houston Astros about third baseman Isaac Paredes, who was long rumored to be a potential Red Sox target throughout the offseason before the club traded for Durbin. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade
  1. exchange
  2. craft
  3. profession
  4. commerce
  5. sale
  6. deal
  7. swap
  8. art
Noun
  • Romantic Venus sextiles dreamy Neptune, softening conversations and opening space for empathy, imagination, and meaningful exchange.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Minutes earlier, Kelsy took advantage of an uncharacteristically lax exchange, blindsiding Jeppe Tverskov to take possession and create an instant breakaway opportunity.
    — Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of exchange
Noun
  • The event also included gourmet appetizers, craft cocktails, live music and guest speakers, including county District Attorney Summer Stephan.
    — La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Progress 93 burned up in Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean, the fate that awaits all Progress craft when their missions are over.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of craft
Noun
  • But actors from all quarters of the profession are still flocking to New York for the kind of substantive material that is becoming harder to come by on screen.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This line of thinking also invites a broader reflection on the motivations that bring clinicians into the profession.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of profession
Noun
  • Every night the Dallas Stars host playoff games, the area in and around the American Airlines Center vibrates with activity, commerce and life.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, was also charged with transportation of a firearm and ammunition through interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony, as well as discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of commerce
Noun
  • The club was put on sale 16 months ago by its ownership group.
    — Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • The group, originally signed to RCA Records, released two albums of bustling synth pop and opened for Harry Styles in the late twenty-tens but was cast off in the early days of the pandemic owing to low sales.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Definition of sale
Verb
  • Mexican cartel figure arrested The Mexican government has dealt another blow to a powerful drug cartel with a high-profile arrest.
    — Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
  • This episode deals pretty much exclusively with the team’s incoming rookie class.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of deal
Verb
  • Also claims its e-bikes can do it all by swapping out a few key components and pressing a button, so the bike behaves differently depending on the day’s needs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • The teams also swapped 2024 seventh-round picks, and the Chiefs sent their selection to the Bills in a trade used to draft wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
Definition of swap
Noun
  • Neon has Japanese thriller Exit 8 based on popular videogame and Steven Soderbergh’s London art world comedy-drama The Christophers with Ian McKellan and Michaela Coel, both in week 3.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Apr. 2026
  • That, in a nutshell, sums up much about the Brussels art ecosystem, which is famous for being eclectic and of excellent quality.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of art

Phrases Containing trade

Browse Nearby Words

tracts
trade
trade book
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Cite this Entry

“Trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trade

Nglish: Translation of trade for Spanish Speakers

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