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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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
That’s a shift from recent trends that saw young workers leave San Francisco for more affordable cities like Nashville and Orlando, and from rankings that name cheaper Midwest and Texas cities as the best places for new grads. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026 The trend is partly driven by majorities of millennial and Gen Z voters choosing to be unaffiliated with either party, according to Gallup research. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Verb
When that’s the case, shop the trending styles below, including my go-to burgundy loafers. — Abby Moore, InStyle, 8 Oct. 2026 With the onset of the autumn agricultural harvest and winter heating seasons, domestic distillate inventories, including diesel, continue to trend downward. — CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • The waves produce relatively small changes in sea level that are measured by tide gauges along the coast and from satellites.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, king tides will be returning to South Florida, leading to the potential for minor coastal flooding.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Milk & Honey Milk & Honey changed what a bar could be and how cocktails were crafted, setting off this century’s speakeasy craze.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Despite its short episode length, the show is designed for streaming services and even TV networks, but not microdrama platforms, having been created before the vertical video craze took off.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Over millions and billions of years, the drag from a star’s magnetic field slows its rotation, and in fact, the astronomers found that stars with stronger magnetism tended to rotate more slowly.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
  • When a signal repeats that consistently, clinical guidance tends to follow.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The space seamlessly flows into a dining area and a custom kitchen outfitted with curving cabinetry, stainless steel shelving, Caesarstone countertops, a contoured island, and a breakfast nook.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Designed by Behar Font & Partners, the building’s curving silhouette and glass façade evoke the slender form of a tulip blossom.
    — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Disappointingly, her screenplay proceeds to unfold in a procession of frustrating get-outs and compromises, repeatedly choosing the least interesting or challenging direction to take this would-be throuple.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Also back here is a dual-pattern power supply mount with two captive screws that serve one of the two supported mounting directions.
    — Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 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
  • Award-winning chef Kai Mueller has created a large and unusual menu that leans into the location, with a much healthier twist (all dishes that are safe to have on the detox programme are clearly marked).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The map, called HB 1, carves Kansas City voters in three GOP-leaning districts in the hopes of securing for Republicans seven of the state’s eight congressional districts.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Or perhaps the increase reflects an institutional tendency toward over-enforcement.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This combines the annual seasonal pattern, the four-year election cycle and the decadal tendencies (years that end in 6).
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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