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
Ballet core may be a recent trend in name, but little girls, including me, have always revered a ballerina. Claire Salinda, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Forces behind this trend Why do employers want many of their workers to be disposable? Paul Osterman, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
While players still take batting practice like any other baseball team, Stancato holds rehearsals to perfect their dance moves, often drawing inspiration from what’s trending on TikTok and Instagram. Chris Placek, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 Visitors waited patiently for a chance to see the now-trending space in person, a sign that social media had introduced this old-school analogue world to a digitally native audience. Zoey Goto, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • Isn’t there an old joke about trying to hold the tide back with a broom?
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Democratic voters in Wisconsin finally came to their senses, and a last-minute ballot count turned the tide.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That’s why putting a lemon wedge in the glass became a craze.
    Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Kardashian and her team started working on the brand before consumers’ protein craze really kicked off, and were ready to launch in spring 2025.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Amenity kits often include socks, too, but those tend to be thin, basic, and designed more for one-time convenience than serious coziness.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Another starting option is student credit cards, which are easier to qualify for and tend to come with lower credit limits.
    Adriana Morga, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The boats are flanked by cascading waterfalls, and mountains that appear to curve in on themselves.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Its bright red star Antares marks the heart of the scorpion, with a curving tail extending downward toward the horizon.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Amid Russia's latest barrage, at least one drone was reported as having crossed into NATO airspace in Romania, from the direction of Moldova.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Ford took one final adventure as the legendary character under the direction of James Mangold with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 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
  • But Google's hardware pitch leans just as heavily on Gemini Intelligence — a suite of artificial intelligence features designed to understand what a user is doing on the phone and take action across different apps.
    MacKenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Back then, governments around the world, in sensible Keynesian fashion, leaned into stimulus plans to mitigate the postcrisis recessions.
    Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Green Lantern stories can have a tendency to lean too far into the sc-fi angle, which can alienate a lot of non-hardcore fans.
    Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Maynard also commends the company for its presentation of the result, in light of AI’s tendency to copy humans’ mathematical results and present them as its own ideas.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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