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
Formal bullying and harassment cases have increased at the BBC, a trend expected following the publication of its Culture Review and the rollout of the Call It Out campaign. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 Photography now joins a broader trend of a generational preoccupation with physical cultural objects and media. Rotem Rozental, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Verb
Peptide stacks are trending, but many of the injectable peptides in them aren’t FDA-approved. Jenna Anderson, Health, 13 July 2026 This metric, which is operating expenses divided by net revenue, has trended in the wrong direction for the last two quarters. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • Incoming tides from the Adriatic Sea continually replenish oxygen and bring in saltwater that the females need to reproduce.
    Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The rhythm is dictated by the tide, instead of by game-drive schedules, and many of the most memorable encounters happen while snorkeling, scuba diving, or simply watching the ocean from the dunes.
    Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • So good was their relationship that when a viral social media craze called the Ice Bucket Challenge swarmed around the world in 2014, Anderson felt brave enough to nominate the fearsome Scot.
    Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • As the sourdough bread craze continues, more companies are producing their own loaves for shoppers to try.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • While research around sports and brain impacts has tended to focus on American football, soccer players may be at risk as well.
    Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 12 July 2026
  • Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer.
    Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • But others could involve the light bouncing off walls, curving through the space or tracing wildly improbable detours before reaching its destination.
    Aldo Romero, The Conversation, 15 July 2026
  • The large double flowers have a tropical appearance, with forward curving purple petals tipped in lime green.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 July 2026
Noun
  • Other research pointed in the same direction, and by 2008, Falk and other exercise physiologists were arguing against the status-quo assumption that kids had some major natural deficits in thermoregulation.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
  • Their brains combine the latest cues with all that previous experience to estimate the likely speed, direction and spin of the serve—before the ball has even crossed the net.
    Michelle Spear, Scientific American, 11 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
  • Centrists warned that a bizarro left-leaning tea party would, like its right-wing antecedent, throw away winnable seats.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • At the time, Republicans were positioned to flip a Senate seat in otherwise Democratic-leaning Delaware.
    David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • Some breeds are more genetically prone to these obsessive compulsive cats tendencies.
    Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Except her version of fun involves vengeance, sly righteousness and the exposure of humanity’s darker tendencies.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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