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

The trend toward eliminating or scaling back such programs started about 15 years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

“I fully believe that we are capable of continuing to trend in the right direction and continue to improve,” McVay said.

From Los Angeles Times

Longer life expectancies and a rise in older women working, which makes divorce more feasible economically, are helping to drive the trend.

From New York Times

Some trends that may be contributing to these changes in Mayan family interaction include declining use of the Indigenous Maya language and cultural practices and growing involvement with Western schooling and digital technology.

From Science Daily

There is a generational component to that, along with the familiar trends of personal economics meaning that people have greater autonomy to move away from the accepted norms in their communities.

From BBC

Related Words

• direction
• movement
• tendency