trend 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
This is why going viral or spawning trends was less of a priority for Newman-Thomas. José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026 In beauty, where consumers move on instantly and trends don’t wait for planning cycles, delays in taking action come at a high cost. Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Cornice headboards are trending again, praised for a classic, layered look. Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 11 Apr. 2026 The broader economic mood has trended lower since early 2025, and consumer sentiment fell in April to its lowest reading on record in the University of Michigan’s long-running survey, with many consumers blaming the Iran conflict for worsening economic conditions. Mike Winters, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • King tides — the year’s highest tides, which climate change is making more frequent and severe — stir up sediment and reduce the light that reaches the seafloor.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Once created, New Cut allowed colonial travelers to rely on strong sea tides to carry them through the canal.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • This event, though, is for kids who can't get enough of the latest K-Pop craze.
    Kristine Sorensen, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • In the wake of the rightward trend that set in after the aggressively accessible bro-country craze of the 2010s, more and more performers would like to be widely accommodating and vaguely uncategorizable.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Billy Riggs, a professor at the University of San Francisco who studies transportation innovation, says these programs tend to target people who are already biking.
    Itay Hod, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Perhaps the biggest caveat is that gas rewards cards tend to be best for those who can afford to pay off their credit card balance in full each and every month.
    Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In another panel, a man and child walk away from the town along a railroad track that curves up and to the left, and then disappears.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The Tianjin tower is recognizable for its softly curving glass walls that reduce exposure to wind, sun, and moisture.
    Nathalie Nietzsche-Knappe, Architectural Digest, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But Jude’s subsequent movies have gone in a less conventional direction.
    Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Costner's character John Dutton was later written out, a turning point that reshaped the show’s direction ahead of its final episodes.
    Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • Rousouli is equally essential to Titanique's success, delivering a Jack Dawson who balances matinee-idol charm and a smooth tenor with a fearless willingness to lean into the absurd.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
  • When Earth moves through certain parts of its orbit, the tilt causes one half of the globe to lean toward the sun.
    David Yeomans, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • With long days and warm nights, the spring and summer months have a tendency to bring people together.
    Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
  • During one rant against cancel culture and its pernicious tendency to smear the innocent, Tillman brings up Joseph McCarthy as a prime example of a person whose reputation was unfairly destroyed.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.

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