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

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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
In television, there are some trends that seemingly come out of nowhere. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 May 2026 Read More TopicsCurly Hair Vogue Beauty The biggest beauty stories, trends, and product recommendations. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 11 May 2026
Verb
But the skatepark community has been trending to more beginner and intermediate level users since then, Hunter said. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 8 May 2026 His numbers are trending upward and his confidence is beginning to stabilize at a high level. Jaylon Thompson may 3, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • The tides had shifted, nearly stranding us.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
  • Rising sea levels, king tides and failing infrastructure are already impacting Mission Beach and other neighborhoods.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • The gaming retail chain made famous in the 2021 meme stock craze will need billions more to actually buy eBay, whose market value is now $48 billion.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
  • Built by casino owners in 1962 at the height of tiki fever, the low-rise house channels the postwar Polynesian craze sparked in part by soldiers returning from the Pacific and further fueled by pop culture phenomena such as Elvis Presley’s 1961 hit movie Blue Hawaii.
    Zoey Goto, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • The menu spans several regions—Thai curries, Chinese dim sum, Japanese sushi—and the restaurant tends to attract both hotel guests and regular Cairo diners who come specifically for it.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • Social events tend to allow a tiny bit of leeway, even though the host then has to listen to tedious descriptions of the traffic.
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The canopy also curves to the shape of Pan Pacific Park’s outdoor amphitheater next to the Goldrich.
    Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
  • This architectural marvel, constructed from natural dolomite lime, curves elegantly across a deep gorge and leads straight into a tunnel cut into solid rock.
    Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • His own aspirations have pulled him in several directions.
    Alex Barasch, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • The team used high-resolution satellite images taken before and after the event to reconstruct the shape and geometry of the slide, as well as its axis and direction.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 May 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
  • Project kids just lean into a fight like this.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • Reid gathered himself by leaning against the basket stanchion, flexing his jaw and taking in some deep breaths.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • And fundamentally, that top-down government solutions have a tendency to stifle bottom-up solutions that can emerge from the voluntary cooperation of free people.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
  • Underlying such obvious acts of aggression lies an insidious tendency for transnational repression to flow from despots into democracies, oppressing lawyers of all nationalities in the process.
    Irwin Cotler, Time, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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