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
Below, five summer necklaces that are trending for summer 2026 and beyond. Selene Oliva, Glamour, 18 July 2026 An attacker can repeatedly ask AI models to locate a popular or trending project. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • Turning the tide Klopp will be tasked with getting Germany back among the world’s best international teams.
    Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • The godless ’60s had radicalized many Christians who saw the toxic stew of drugs, rock ’n’ roll, and shallow commercialism as a sign of the end times and vowed to reverse the demonic tide.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • Gulf consumers have long embraced the global protein craze, but the Iran conflict is squeezing the margins of food companies seeking to profit from the trend.
    Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 24 July 2026
  • But the current gym craze is an outgrowth of her and her parents’ generations.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • The roomy fit is also a welcome bonus if your feet tend to swell after hours of sightseeing.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
  • The data shows that democracies are overrepresented at the World Cup and also tend to do better than authoritarian nations – but does that matter?
    John A. Tures, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • Prosecutors said the road curved, and Garcia drove off the road down an embankment and hit a tree going 101 mph.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
  • White embroidery curved across the shoulders, while rows of wavy trim followed the skirt’s seams.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 23 July 2026
Noun
  • In that contest, Clark was assessed a technical foul for loudly clapping in the direction of Mercury players during a skirmish, which White said the officials deemed as taunting.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • All lanes of the Long Island Expressway at 188th Street were blocked in both directions due to flooding for a couple of hours in the early afternoon before reopening, according to the New York City Police Department.
    Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 18 July 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
  • And though Chiles has been disappointing so far, there’s still some potential there, especially if Kelly figures out a way to lean into his strengths.
    Antonio Morales, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Malibu Named after Olympic surfing champion Duke Kahanamoku, this classic Malibu spot leans Hawaiian and East Asian.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • OpenAI's Study Mode, introduced last year, is meant to counter that tendency.
    Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • His pass sonar for the World Cup, which visualises the direction and distance of a player’s passes, illustrates that tendency.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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