trend

[ trend ]

noun

1. the general course or prevailing tendency; drift:

   trends in the teaching of foreign languages; the trend of events.

2. style or vogue:

   the new trend in women's apparel.

3. the general direction followed by a road, river, coastline, or the like.

verb (used without object)

1. to have a general tendency, as events, conditions, etc.
2. to tend to take a particular direction; extend in some direction indicated.

   Synonyms: incline, run, stretch

3. to emerge as a popular trend; be currently popular:

   words that have trended this year.

4. Digital Technology. to be widely mentioned or discussed on the internet, especially in posts on social media websites:

   news stories that are trending online.

5. to veer or turn off in a specified direction, as a river, mountain range, etc.:

   The river trends toward the southeast.

trend

/ trɛnd /

noun

1. general tendency or direction
2. fashion; mode

verb

1. to take a certain trend

Other Words From

• counter·trend noun
• subtrend noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trend¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English trenden “to turn, roll,” Old English trendan; akin to Old English trinde “ball,” Dutch trent “circumference,” Swedish trind “round;” trindle, trundle

Word History and Origins

Origin of trend¹

Old English trendan to turn; related to Middle Low German trenden

Synonym Study

See tendency.

Example Sentences

“It’s a Democratic Party which increasingly has become a party of identity politics, rather than understanding that the vast majority of people in this country are working class. This trend of workers leaving the Democratic Party started with whites, and it has accelerated to Latinos and Blacks.”

From Salon

There is another trend that has made its mark in cities since the first Trump election in 2016: the dramatic change in the way people consume information.

From Slate

The Baltimore native could join the recent trend of taller, athletic cornerbacks who are making their mark in the league, Fulton said.

From Los Angeles Times

As the annual tradition of pre-holidays “cuffing season” begins, “I’m finding people in my generation don’t even know what that is. I’m trying to explain it to them,” she says of the dating trend.

From Los Angeles Times

McMahon’s ruling may also undermine what has been a growing trend toward the licensing of copyrighted content by AI developers — in part to forestall copyright infringement claims.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• direction
• movement
• tendency