trend 1 of 2

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
Though still more Christian than the national average of 62%, the state follows a trend of more people identifying as unaffiliated with any religion. Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025 Vogue Beauty The biggest beauty stories, trends, and product recommendations. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
Gold is for war, and bitcoin for flight, so expect gold to trend upward over the next few years. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 Less than a week ahead of the Miami Hurricanes starting spring football practices, coach Mario Cristobal said quarterback and Georgia transfer Carson Beck continues to trend in the right direction. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • The ceremony also turned the tide for Conclave, a co-production made with funding from both the United States and the United Kingdom, with Best Film, Outstanding British Film, and Best Adapted Screenplay awards.
    Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2025
  • According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the third leading cause of accidental death worldwide, and rip tides and strong currents pose a greater risk to beachgoers than sharks.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • That’s more than double the levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic and close to the record seen at the beginning of 2021, when the meme stock craze sent GameStop shares on a historic run before a massive crash.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025
  • But on principle, the bacon-and-sweets craze has gone too far.
    Kathryn Varn, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Greater access to in-person early voting also increases the likelihood of a person’s ballot counting, since mail-in ballots tend to be rejected at higher rates than in-person votes.
    Stephen C. Phillips, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
  • For instance, areas with growing job opportunities and a stable population tend to attract more renters, increasing the potential for consistent cash flow.
    Veena Jetti, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The river eventually curves and disappears into the distance.
    David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 15 Feb. 2025
  • The long hood curves back to a glass bubble that mimics a fighter jet cockpit.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Every shift in direction (and there may be many in the beginning) is an opportunity to make adjustments rather than lament the difficulties.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The cherry-picking, though, goes in the other direction.
    Justice delos Santos, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The latests deaths included three residents of long-term care facilities in Dallas, as well as a Balch Springs man in his 20s and a Dallas man in his 60s.
    Dana Branham, Dallas News, 30 Apr. 2020
  • That equates to more than 45 million Americans using CBD products, based on latest available U.S. Census estimates.
    Brendan Bures, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2019
Verb
  • Especially when sleeping, go ahead and lean against the interior panel – everyone else will appreciate it.
    Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
  • From the jump, Johnson leaned into the excitement and expectation with an understanding of how much heavy lifting is required to attain his goals.
    Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Beyond The Basics Successful investing requires mastering behavioral tendencies, and effective retirement planning demands a clear view of your financial reality.
    Wayne Anderman, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • And so, your natural tendency to believe that everyone is operating in good faith takes a real beating.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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