trend 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
TikTok had looked to improve its relationship with Black creators after a number of creators have spoken out about not receiving credit or recognition for their creation of viral trends on the platform. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025 In the short term, this prompt analyzes your metrics and activities to spot trends your busy brain overlooks, giving you the gift of foresight instead of hindsight. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. John Tufts, IndyStar, 4 Sep. 2025 Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • Levine Cava noted that her 2026 budget proposal has funds for a new animal shelter in South Miami-Dade but that sterilization efforts need to increase significantly to turn the tide on the dog population.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Although the tide is turning (subscription required), there’s still a misconception that the trades are low-paying, dead-end jobs.
    Andrew Schaap, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The opening craze has calmed down.
    Anna Broughel, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Opendoor , recently at the center of a meme stock craze, was also one of retail investors' favorites heading into September.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • However, the current crop of general-purpose humanoids tends to target moderate loads, similar to an average person, because higher payloads complicate balance and actuator sizing.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Along the Corniche—a sweeping waterfront promenade curving around the bay—traditional dhows drift past a shimmering skyline of minarets and sculptural skyscrapers.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Here, miles away from the nearest public road, a small canyon carves into curving limestone.
    Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Mother Monster took home the artist of the year award, best collaboration, best direction, and best art direction at the MTV Video Music Awards, which took place at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
    Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Once the band reaches your chest, slowly reverse the direction, keeping your elbows straight.
    Jakob Roze, Health, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • These latests features are designed for enterprises who want to integrate their AI technology with either existing Salesforce data or even their own data.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
    Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
Verb
  • The classic Stern misdirect briefly confused listeners and leaned into the unfounded rumors that SiriusXM wasn't planning to renew Stern’s current five-year contract, which expires in December.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The Heat has discussed this option, but to this point has leaned toward keeping Rozier to see if his salary (and expiring contract) can be used as cap ballast in a trade if a pricey standout player becomes available closer to the February trade deadline.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Nowadays people see small images on their phones so there’s a tendency to crop in on everything.
    Adam Morganstern, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • With that said, his biggest flaw remains a tendency to sail throws high from the pocket.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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