trades 1 of 2

plural of trade
1
as in exchanges
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 crafts
an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in sales
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

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trades

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of trade

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 trades
Noun
Their trades from life before the camps are flourishing through small businesses. Maansi Srivastava, NPR, 21 July 2026 All of this comes on the heels of a big year across hockey — one highlighted by franchise-altering trades, the Olympics, growth across the PWHL and a banger of a Stanley Cup Final. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 21 July 2026 Organizations like The Home Depot, Lowe's and others have made significant investments in skilled trades and contractor education, helping raise awareness and expand access. Jenny Nail, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Despite a record backlog, improving demand trends, and significant AI opportunities, the stock trades at a multiple that remains well below historical norms. Harvey Stober, CNBC, 14 July 2026 The film’s existence was confirmed by the Hollywood trades, but details were of course scarce, as Baron Cohen made the project in characteristic secrecy. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2026 This includes a range of offerings, often in high-demand and well-paying fields such as childcare, nursing, and skilled trades such as welding, truck driving or auto repair. The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026 With the signing of former Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams on Monday, the Lakers have eight new players, all of them arriving either via trades, free agency or the draft. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Verb
Here, the classic espresso martini trades its traditional coffee-forward notes for the warm, roasted depth of hojicha. Carissa Chesanek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 The 27-year-old was the likeliest candidate to be the team’s starting second baseman if, as expected, San Francisco trades Luis Arraez before Monday’s deadline. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 So whatever trades the Angels do make will likely be, at least in part, with the goal of remaining competitive in 2027. The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 27 July 2026 With guests including Tanya Tucker, T Bone Burnett, and Josh Homme, the country star’s seventh album trades the pop sheen of recent releases for rootsy, candidly autobiographical songwriting. Amanda Wicks, Pitchfork, 25 July 2026 And even net of its recent declines, Palantir trades at a material premium to its software peer group — and well above its own historical EV/sales average. Michael Khouw, CNBC, 24 July 2026 Front Beach is close enough to downtown for an easy swim between meals, while Halibut Point State Park, a short drive away, trades village charm for granite quarries. Jenn Sinrich, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026 Circe trades seduction for something darker When Odysseus’ men encounter Circe in Homer’s poem, the goddess drugs them and turns them into pigs. Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026 Andrew Garfield trades modern superheroes for medieval revolution in the trailer for The Uprising, Paul Greengrass’ historical drama inspired by England’s 1381 peasant revolt. Sophie Miller, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trades
Noun
  • Though Wasserman hasn’t been charged with any crime, the exchanges took place before Maxwell had been charged with any wrongdoing, and the LA28 board backed Wasserman, the entertainment mogul sold his agency after several prominent artists fled.
    Barry Svrluga, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The build-up is already heated, with both fighters engaging in intense exchanges, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • Kids move through crafts, games and play areas, meet characters, sit for storytimes and then browse a toy store section curated by toy experts.
    Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
  • Katana Kitten crafts Sticky Soy Garlic Wings balancing sweet, savory, and heat.
    Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • By contrast, jobs for education majors and those in the health professions slid 16%.
    Courtney Connley-Hampton, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The activist said he’s seen AI affect ride-hail drivers, therapists, architects, designers and other professions.
    Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • While air conditioning accounts for a small portion of Chinese exports to the EU, China has seized on the surge in sales as evidence that European consumers need Chinese products.
    Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • The draw game sales figure doesn’t include state revenue from the recent rollover jackpots in the multi-state games of Powerball and Mega Millions, where the winning ticket on Tuesday was sold at a Wawa in Bradenton.
    Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • The plot deals relatively little with the professional criminal classes, but rather with the tensions—emotional, psychological and fundamental of the upper middle class.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
  • The extended suspension of visits to Labadee’s white-sand beaches and popular overwater zip line deals another blow to Haiti’s already fragile economy.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • But beyond the main section of the park, Hiddn in Addo offers a different kind of safari, one that swaps the adrenaline of game drives for the restorative power of nature.
    Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Then Anna fails Room 7 and winds up back in Room 8, where Becca swaps the players’ table positions, so Ify reads the win condition as well and leaves.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • In the three years after selling, the Levine operated out of a location with free admission on the edge of uptown’s arts district.
    Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Proposition 28 sets aside an amount equal to 1% of the state’s base education funding — close to $1 billion per year — to increase arts education.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • In a handwritten financial disclosure a decade later, Jackson wrote that his occupations were being a state senator and a logging equipment operator.
    Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • Education experts said one possible response to such a scenario is for state legislatures that set licensing requirements to decide some occupations — like barbers and stylists — actually need less training.
    Francesca Pinney, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trades.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trades. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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