Definition of trendnext
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
However, tracking the trends in the report helps in our understanding of the economic backdrop in which our companies are operating, along with official government data and companies’ results and commentary. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 For the report, Lightspeed looked at tipping trends across 1,500 restaurants in France that use the company’s payment platforms from June 2023 to August 2025. — CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026
Verb
Brands are boasting the hidden hands of untraditional technique, texture, and textiles more than ever, sometimes emphasizing it over their take on the trending silhouette or hot new hue. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026 The axis of the heaviest precipitation continues to trend further south, the weather service said. — Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trend
Noun
  • The waves produce relatively small changes in sea level that are measured by tide gauges along the coast and from satellites.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, king tides will be returning to South Florida, leading to the potential for minor coastal flooding.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • ICOs were the dominant crypto craze of the late 2010s, creating the capital that eventually went into decentralized finance (crypto’s version of what happens on Wall Street) and the booming NFT market.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Amid the ongoing loafer craze, the brand, best known for its men’s offering, is ready to court more women with its collection of comfortable classics.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Archaeologists have tended to look at the paintings in these burial chambers as two-dimensional images to analyze.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Advertisement In many circles, the first mention of climate policy in the EU tends to be a discussion about backtracking.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That’s apt because the technological stroke that’s allowed Jamestown to revive One Times Square’s interiors is the evolution of digital screens that can slink along curving walls and respond to touch.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s central plaza, which spreads out beneath the building’s curved, hovering form, was always meant to be a generous civic space.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Our research is already leading in new directions beyond ancient interiors.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The team notes that this version uses one cell line, muscle fibers aligned in one direction and simple shapes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The latests stats mean AI music has exploded by 650% in 16 months.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The latests forecasts show a new round of storm systems will increase rain chances across much of Northern California and the Central Valley in the coming days.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Award-winning chef Kai Mueller has created a large and unusual menu that leans into the location, with a much healthier twist (all dishes that are safe to have on the detox programme are clearly marked).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The map, called HB 1, carves Kansas City voters in three GOP-leaning districts in the hopes of securing for Republicans seven of the state’s eight congressional districts.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Or perhaps the increase reflects an institutional tendency toward over-enforcement.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This combines the annual seasonal pattern, the four-year election cycle and the decadal tendencies (years that end in 6).
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Trend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trend. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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