trend

American  

[trend] / trɛnd /

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.

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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 British  

/ trɛnd /

noun

1. general tendency or direction

2. fashion; mode

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verb

1. to take a certain trend

Related Words

See tendency.

Other Word Forms

• countertrend noun
• subtrend noun

Etymology

Origin of trend

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

Example Sentences

Alger Focus Equity Fund co-manager Patrick Kelly says investors should not lose sight of AI’s impact, with major secular trends in place.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Current trends precisely match scientific projections from decades ago,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, other universities are joining the trend.

From Los Angeles Times

Demons, on the other hand, are a big trend in pop culture in recent years.

From Salon

This study is the first to track long-term trends in salt substitute use across a nationally representative group of U.S. adults.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• direction
• movement
• tendency