Definition of trendnext
1
as in tide
a prevailing or general movement or inclination according to the survey, there's a growing trend for companies to run their own day-care centers for the benefit of employees

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2

trend

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to tend
to show a liking or proneness (for something) during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to curve
to turn away from a straight line or course the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trend different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of trend are current, drift, tendency, and tenor. While all these words mean "movement in a particular direction," trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

When can current be used instead of trend?

In some situations, the words current and trend are roughly equivalent. However, current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

When is drift a more appropriate choice than trend?

The synonyms drift and trend are sometimes interchangeable, but drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces, or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

the drift of the population away from large cities
got the drift of her argument

When might tendency be a better fit than trend?

The words tendency and trend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

When is it sensible to use tenor instead of trend?

The meanings of tenor and trend largely overlap; however, tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

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 trend
Noun
French biotech company bioMérieux tracks trends in gastrointestinal pathogens by collecting test results from a network of laboratories. Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 For the office Work is the perfect place to test-drive the shoe trend for high summer, since, thankfully, the silhouette won’t break any office dress codes. India Roby, Glamour, 21 July 2026
Verb
Russell said that breadfruit will become more common as climate change continues to trend toward warmer conditions throughout the world as a response to burning fossil fuels. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026 China’s social media has lit up in celebration of their achievement, with the top two trending topics on China’s X-like Weibo Friday morning discussing the win. Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • Officials have also reviewed currents, tides, wind conditions and possible drift patterns, and checked local beaches, bays, inlets and other coastal areas.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 30 July 2026
  • The project, whose other backers include the Patel Family Office and Saudi’s AHQ Group, is part of a larger tide of capital flowing into Gulf oil infrastructure.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • The theater was originally made to showcase Cinerama, a format developed in the 1950s that was part of the widescreen craze designed to lure viewers away from television and back to cinemas.
    Mandalit del Barco, NPR, 31 July 2026
  • Over the ensuing decades, Link Snacks has been able to ride similar trends, from the Paleo diet in the 2010s to the current protein craze driven, in part, by the popularization of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
    Tom Huddleston Jr. Zachary Green, CNBC, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Programs that change the underlying operation tend to deliver.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Questions about whose interests Infantino is serving have developed beyond average cynics who tend to suspect this type of thing.
    Simon Hughes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Concave center Some pillows have an inward-curving center that has wide side supports.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
  • Tears traced the terrain of her face, curving around the high mountains of her cheekbones, pooling at her chin.
    Reshma Kirpalani, NPR, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • The Azure DevOps case makes the same point from the other direction.
    Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • When the containers opened, the butterflies scattered in every direction.
    Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The latests stats mean AI music has exploded by 650% in 16 months.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The latests forecasts show a new round of storm systems will increase rain chances across much of Northern California and the Central Valley in the coming days.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The inmate then leaned backward and fell, pulling two corrections officers to the ground with him followed by a brief scuffle.
    Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
  • Zack Fox has leaned into a similar instinct with his own gathering-style events, treating a show less as a transaction and more as a standing invitation to a recurring crowd.
    Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Noun
  • That tendency toward downbeat storytelling has befallen many Spider-Man films over the years.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • The Alpha Capricornids may fare a little better because of their tendency to produce brilliant fireballs capable of shining through the moonlight.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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