trend

1 of 2

noun

ˈtrend How to pronounce trend (audio)
Synonyms of trendnext
1
a
: a prevailing tendency or inclination : drift
current trends in education
b
: a general movement : swing
the trend toward suburban living
c
: a current style or preference : vogue
new fashion trends
d
: a line of development : approach
new trends in cancer research
2
: the general movement over time of a statistically detectable change
also : a statistical curve reflecting such a change
3
: a line of general direction or movement
the trend of the coast turned toward the west

trend

2 of 2

verb

trended; trending; trends

intransitive verb

1
a
: to show a tendency : incline
prices trending upward
b
: to become deflected : shift
opinions trending toward conservatism
2
a
: to extend in a general direction : follow a general course
mountain ranges trending north and south
b
: to veer in a new direction : bend
a coastline that trends westward
3
: to generate or attract a lot of interest or attention especially online and in social media
a trending news story
… a database that combs about 42 sources, including blogs, social media, peer-to-peer sites, video destinations, Twitter and popular Web sites to present a complete view of how brands, topics and ideas are trending online.—Daisy Whitney

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for trend

tendency, trend, drift, tenor, current mean movement in a particular direction.

tendency implies an inclination sometimes amounting to an impelling force.

a general tendency toward inflation

trend applies to the general direction maintained by a winding or irregular course.

the long-term trend of the stock market is upward

drift may apply to a tendency determined by external forces

the drift of the population away from large cities

or it may apply to an underlying or obscure trend of meaning or discourse.

got the drift of her argument

tenor stresses a clearly perceptible direction and a continuous, undeviating course.

the tenor of the times

current implies a clearly defined but not necessarily unalterable course.

an encounter that changed the current of my life

Examples of trend in a Sentence

Noun the downward trend of the stock market Digital technology is the latest trend in television. There is a disturbing trend toward obesity in children. Verb during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
That bucks the usual trends, which typically show ridership falling off in August. —Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024 Birria ramen Birria ramen dates back a few years to another viral online trend. —Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. —Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024 John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trend 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to turn, revolve, from Old English trendan; akin to Middle High German trendel disk, spinning top

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1777, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of trend was in 1598

Phrases Containing trend

Dictionary Entries Near trend

trench warfare

trend

trendel

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trend. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

trend

1 of 2 verb
ˈtrend How to pronounce trend (audio)
1
: to extend in a general direction
2
: to show a tendency : incline

trend

2 of 2 noun
1
: general direction taken
the easterly trend of the shoreline
2
a
: a general tendency or movement
economic trends
b
: a current style or liking
new fashion trends

More from Merriam-Webster on trend

Nglish: Translation of trend for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of trend for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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