1
2
a
: an act or instance of trading : transaction
also
: an exchange of property usually without use of money
b
: a firm's customers : clientele
c
: the group of firms engaged in a business or industry
3
a
: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill : craft
b
: the business or work in which one engages regularly : occupation
c
: the persons engaged in an occupation, business, or industry
4
: a customary course of action : practice
thy sin's not accidental, but a trade—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare5
: trade wind
—usually used in plural
6
: a publication intended for persons in the entertainment business
—usually used in plural
7
a
obsolete
: a path traversed : way
b
archaic
: a track or trail left by a person or animal : tread sense 4
traded; trading
1
: to give one thing in exchange for another
2
a
: to engage in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods
b
: to make one's purchases : shop
trades at his store
3
4
obsolete
: to have dealings : negotiate
1
a
: to give in exchange for another commodity : barter
also
: to make an exchange of
traded places
b
: to engage in frequent buying and selling of (stocks, commodities, etc.) usually in search of quick profits
2
archaic
: to do business with
1
: of, relating to, or used in trade
2
a
: intended for or limited to persons in a business or industry
a trade publication
trade sales
b
: serving others in the same business rather than the ultimate user or consumer
a trade printing house
3
or less commonly trades
: of, composed of, or representing the trades or trade unions
a trade committee
4
: having a larger softcover format than that of a mass-market paperback and usually sold only in bookstores
trade paperbacks
also
: of or relating to the publishing of such books
Phrases
trade on
: to take often unscrupulous advantage of : exploit
traded on their influence … in securing special favors—T. C. Pease
T. C. PeaseSynonyms
Examples of trade in a Sentence
Noun
the trade between the two countries
Trade accounts for half of our gross national product.
The Tigers made a few good trades this season and picked up some promising players.
Verb
If you don't like your seat, I'll trade with you.
I traded seats with her halfway through the show.
He was traded to the Yankees.
They traded him to the Broncos.
I traded my pen for a pencil and kept writing.
Their firm specializes in trading bonds.
She mostly trades in stocks.
Recent Examples on the WebPatrick Winn, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2024
Those numbers since the trade deadline, in about 70 minutes of game action together: Outscoring opponents 3-0, controlling 62.42 percent of shot attempts, 48-21 edge in shots on goal and a 36-16 advantage in scoring chances (including 18-6 in high-danger chances).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2024
But aside from pointed words and the perfunctory maritime patrol, Beijing’s options to push back against U.S. pressure appear limited, analysts said, especially as China contends with slowing economic growth and mounting trade frictions.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The Dodgers, looking for a veteran backup for Steve Yeager, acquired Grote at the trade deadline in 1977 in exchange for minor leaguers Daniel Smith and Randy Rogers, neither of whom made the majors.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Some economists are warning that Trump’s trade agenda and the ensuing retaliation from trading partners would hurt the US economy by worsening inflation, killing jobs, depressing growth and spooking investors.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The new Multimodal Dry Canal project announced this week will attempt to further alleviate a global trade problem that particularly affects the Panama Canal’s most frequent users—the US, China, Japan, and South Korea.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
The two parties also signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which gave the colonies favorable trade status with France.
—Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Many countries in Asia rely on China for trade and the U.S. for security, NPR's Anthony Kuhn tells Up First.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
The situation differs from four years ago when Bitcoin was trading under $9,000 and most of the mining activity took place in China.
—David Pan, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
Same goes for Gordon Hayward before he got traded to Oklahoma City.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
There are lots of reasons why people might trade the Baltic coast for the Mediterranean.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
But would the Loons be swayed to sell Reynoso to a club in Mexico for, say, $1 million, or be more inclined to trade him within MLS for a hypothetical figure of $1.5 million in GAM?
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2024
Globe Life stock traded at $96 per share on Thursday morning.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Preliminary talks with the city shifted in tone earlier this year as the parties traded drafts of the negotiation contract.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
The enlarged Skydance would then acquire Paramount Global, which is publicly traded, in a two-step process.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
Accounting for rising prices, last year's $690 billion two-way trade was 7% lower than the pre-trade war peak in 2018, according to calculations by Alfredo Carrillo Obregon, a research associate at the Cato Institute.
—David J. Lynch The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2023
Accounting for rising prices, last year’s $690 billion two-way trade was 7 percent lower than the pre-trade war peak in 2018, according to calculations by Alfredo Carrillo Obregon, a research associate at the Cato Institute.
—David J. Lynch, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Aug. 2023
Kind, who represented Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District since his election in 1996, served on the House Ways and Means Committee, a powerful panel that is effectively Congress’ chief tax-writing body, carving out a role on Capitol Hill as a pro-trade Democrat.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2023
Enter Email Sign Up Acquired along with Dmitry Orlov in a pre-trade deadline deal with Washington, Hathaway’s ongoing integration into a deep and talented lineup is yet another reason to believe this record-setting year could end with a title.
—Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Mar. 2023
But don’t overlook the Mavericks’ faster, more instinctual offensive pace and 3-0 record in games with Irving but without Doncic as signs of Irving’s post-trade impact.
—Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 20 Mar. 2023
Collaborative networks that foster easy communication channels across firms and influencer networks or that provide integrated execution and management options, including pre- and post-trade analytics further illustrate unbundled benefits.
—Bob Casey, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
One jumbotron interview to appreciate his fourth consecutive All-Star berth and the Mavericks’ post-trade deadline outlook with Kyrie Irving on board.
—Dallas News, 19 Feb. 2023
Noun
This secretive organization, known as the United Wa State Army, has long dominated Asia’s roaring meth trade.
—Patrick Winn, Rolling Stone, 13 Apr. 2024
Those numbers since the trade deadline, in about 70 minutes of game action together: Outscoring opponents 3-0, controlling 62.42 percent of shot attempts, 48-21 edge in shots on goal and a 36-16 advantage in scoring chances (including 18-6 in high-danger chances).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2024
But aside from pointed words and the perfunctory maritime patrol, Beijing’s options to push back against U.S. pressure appear limited, analysts said, especially as China contends with slowing economic growth and mounting trade frictions.
—Olivia Wang, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
The Dodgers, looking for a veteran backup for Steve Yeager, acquired Grote at the trade deadline in 1977 in exchange for minor leaguers Daniel Smith and Randy Rogers, neither of whom made the majors.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Some economists are warning that Trump’s trade agenda and the ensuing retaliation from trading partners would hurt the US economy by worsening inflation, killing jobs, depressing growth and spooking investors.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
The new Multimodal Dry Canal project announced this week will attempt to further alleviate a global trade problem that particularly affects the Panama Canal’s most frequent users—the US, China, Japan, and South Korea.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
The two parties also signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which gave the colonies favorable trade status with France.
—Vanessa Armstrong, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Many countries in Asia rely on China for trade and the U.S. for security, NPR's Anthony Kuhn tells Up First.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Verb
The Clippers won the season series against the Mavericks, 2-1, but the two teams haven’t met since Dallas traded for center Daniel Gafford and forward P.J. Washington.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
The situation differs from four years ago when Bitcoin was trading under $9,000 and most of the mining activity took place in China.
—David Pan, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024
Same goes for Gordon Hayward before he got traded to Oklahoma City.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2024
There are lots of reasons why people might trade the Baltic coast for the Mediterranean.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
But would the Loons be swayed to sell Reynoso to a club in Mexico for, say, $1 million, or be more inclined to trade him within MLS for a hypothetical figure of $1.5 million in GAM?
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2024
Globe Life stock traded at $96 per share on Thursday morning.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024
Preliminary talks with the city shifted in tone earlier this year as the parties traded drafts of the negotiation contract.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2024
The enlarged Skydance would then acquire Paramount Global, which is publicly traded, in a two-step process.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Almost as soon as international trade had been liberalized, anti-trade tariffs were instituted across Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
Accounting for rising prices, last year's $690 billion two-way trade was 7% lower than the pre-trade war peak in 2018, according to calculations by Alfredo Carrillo Obregon, a research associate at the Cato Institute.
—David J. Lynch The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2023
Accounting for rising prices, last year’s $690 billion two-way trade was 7 percent lower than the pre-trade war peak in 2018, according to calculations by Alfredo Carrillo Obregon, a research associate at the Cato Institute.
—David J. Lynch, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Aug. 2023
Kind, who represented Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District since his election in 1996, served on the House Ways and Means Committee, a powerful panel that is effectively Congress’ chief tax-writing body, carving out a role on Capitol Hill as a pro-trade Democrat.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2023
Enter Email Sign Up Acquired along with Dmitry Orlov in a pre-trade deadline deal with Washington, Hathaway’s ongoing integration into a deep and talented lineup is yet another reason to believe this record-setting year could end with a title.
—Tara Sullivan, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Mar. 2023
But don’t overlook the Mavericks’ faster, more instinctual offensive pace and 3-0 record in games with Irving but without Doncic as signs of Irving’s post-trade impact.
—Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 20 Mar. 2023
Collaborative networks that foster easy communication channels across firms and influencer networks or that provide integrated execution and management options, including pre- and post-trade analytics further illustrate unbundled benefits.
—Bob Casey, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2023
One jumbotron interview to appreciate his fourth consecutive All-Star berth and the Mavericks’ post-trade deadline outlook with Kyrie Irving on board.
—Dallas News, 19 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near trade
Cite this Entry
“Trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trade
1 of 3 noun1
: the business or work in which a person takes part regularly : occupation
2
: an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skill
3
: the persons working in an occupation, business, or industry
4
: the business of buying and selling items : commerce
5
a
: an act or instance of trading : transaction
b
: an exchange of property without use of money : swap
6
: a firm's customers
7
: trade wind
—usually used in plural
trade
2 of 3 verb
traded; trading
1
a
: to give in exchange for something else
b
: to make an exchange of
traded places
2
a
: to take part in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods
b
: to deal regularly as a customer
trade
3 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or used in trade
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share