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 Web
Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Navajo, Zuni and other Native silversmiths who took up the trade first worked in silver melted down from coins.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
Nvidia, meanwhile, traded 1.7% higher around 8:43 a.m.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024
Pascal Lamy, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2022
Almost as soon as international trade had been liberalized, anti-trade tariffs were instituted across Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trade 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Currently, 10 states, including Florida, have any such mandate, according to the American Staffing Association, a trade group for the staffing industry.
—Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Navajo, Zuni and other Native silversmiths who took up the trade first worked in silver melted down from coins.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
This level of integration means users can securely buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrency with a range of providers from around the world.
—Martin Lerma, Robb Report, 23 Nov. 2024
Nvidia, meanwhile, traded 1.7% higher around 8:43 a.m.
—Fred Imbert, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Regardless of the causes, a growing segment of the public in many countries has come to view trade as the main culprit behind inequality, an assumption that has fueled anti-trade politicians, such as Donald Trump, who seek to reduce the exposure of their countries to the global economy.
—Pascal Lamy, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2022
Almost as soon as international trade had been liberalized, anti-trade tariffs were instituted across Europe.
—TIME, 18 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for trade
Dictionary Entries Near trade
Cite this Entry
“Trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade. Accessed 28 Nov. 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
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