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
The upward trend in demand for natural gas to fuel electric grids means more revenues for GE Vernova’s power and electrification business. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 21 May 2025 Breaking with that trend, last month the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, which represents higher-ranking department officials, endorsed Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Brannan’s opponent in June’s Democratic comptroller primary. Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 21 May 2025
Verb
But most of the league, especially in the West, is trending toward bigger starting lineups and rotations again. Jovan Buha, New York Times, 22 May 2025 Red nails aren’t only trending for manicures in 2025, but for your pedis too. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • Jason Clement, the founding partner and CEO of SFC, said that while the NHL, USA Hockey and others have done a great job in turning the tide against the participation slide, rinks in the U.S. and Canada aren’t meeting the moment just yet.
    Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 22 May 2025
  • Trump is eager to reverse the tide of Democrats routinely outraising GOP candidates and wants to maximize his own impact as president.
    Jill Colvin, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • GameStop’s share price has exploded almost 70% since its early April fund raising announcement and is now trading at levels not seen since the tail end of the meme stock craze in 2022.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Milliner believes there is a practical side to the poultry craze as consumers increasingly seek out satisfying and affordable alternatives amid rising beef prices.
    Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Trump’s successes, including his victory last year, have tended to be larger than expected after the Democrats underestimated his popularity.
    Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 June 2025
  • The approval ratings of presidents also tend to rise and fall depending on whether gas prices are up or down.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2025
Verb
  • The architects Jeff Milstein and Barbara Weinstein pushed the kitchen under an arched alcove, lifted a bedroom above a curving wall, and carved a private office into the living area that looks like a tiny southwestern house.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 22 May 2025
  • The gleaming buildings of Chicago, curving along the shore of Lake Michigan, are especially lethal.
    Vincent Alban, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Mahan has refused to back down, maintaining that making difficult decisions is necessary to steer San Jose in the right direction.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025
  • Most days, there are between three and five clues in each direction on a five by five grid, but the puzzles are sometimes larger, especially on Saturdays.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 26 May 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
  • Additionally, this issue is perhaps the most audacious in appearance—leaning into the modernist trend of dominatrix-meets-high-fashion.
    Tiffany Leigh, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Meanwhile, leaders like Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are looking for ways to rebuild the Democratic Party, leaning further into economic populism in order to win elections, especially after the economy loomed so large during the 2024 campaigns.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • As the graph shows below, Bellingham, like most of Real Madrid midfielders, has a tendency to hold on to the ball, whereas Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen midfield is defined by quick and incisive short passes.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • Currently, some prescribing physicians are likely unaware if patients have disordered eating tendencies, either because the symptoms slip through the cracks, the patient actively conceals them, or the patient is too embarrassed to bring them up, Wassenaar explained.
    Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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