Patterns — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun plural noun /ˈpa-tərn/ (noun) /(ˌ)rē-ˈpa-tərn/ (verb) /ˈthȯt/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Patterns

Patterns (verb)

  1. match
  2. imitate
  3. to make, adapt, or fashion according to a pattern
  4. to pattern (something) anew

Patterns (noun)

  1. a form or model proposed for imitation, exemplar
  2. something designed or used as a model for making things
  3. an artistic, musical, literary, or mechanical design or form
  4. the usually oval course flown (as over an airport) by aircraft awaiting clearance especially to land
  5. a state of waiting or suspended activity or progress
  6. a fixed picture broadcast by a television station to assist viewers in adjusting their receivers
  7. something formed in the mind
  8. an individual act or product of thinking, idea
  9. a developed intention or plan

Patterns (plural noun)

  1. the way a person thinks about things

Patterns (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric)

    "a coverlet with a nosegay of tiny pink roses as the pattern"

    similar: designs, figures, motifs, motives
    related: schemes, devices, adornments, caparisons, decorations, embellishments, frills, garnishes, ornaments, trims

  2. a usual manner of behaving or doing

    "her daily pattern begins with coffee and a bagel every morning for breakfast"

    similar: customs, fashions, habits, habitudes, practices, rituals, tricks, ways, wonts
    related: addictions, dispositions, bents, inclinations, proclivities, sets, tendencies, tenors, turns, bags, conventions, forms, modes, styles, usages, uses, deportments, manners, mores, drills, grooves, jog trots, regimens, regimes, rotes, routines, ruts, affectations, airs, poses, attributes, characteristics, marks, traits, eccentricities, kinks, oddities, peculiarities, quirks, singularities, tics

  3. an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

    "with her, everything must be done strictly according to pattern"

    similar: drills, grinds, grooves, locksteps, rotes, routines, ruts, treadmills
    related: daily dozens, regimens, housekeepings, customs, fashions, habits, practices, tricks, wonts, approaches, manners, methods, procedures, strategies, styles, tacks, techniques, ways, designs, plans, programs, schemes, conventions, policies, traditions

  4. the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged

    "many of the artist's paintings use the same pattern of a lone figure surrounded by a vast landscape"

    similar: arrangements, compositions, configurations, constellations, designs, formats, forms, getups, layouts, makeups, ordonnances
    related: motifs, themes

Patterns (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in matches, models

    similar: customizes, gears, matches, models, acclimates, acclimatizes, accommodates, adapts, adjusts, conditions, conforms, doctors, edits, fashions, fits, puts, shapes, suits, tailors, readapts, readjusts, attunes, corrects, harmonizes, squares, tunes, establishes, roots, settles, acquaints, familiarizes, orientates, orients, equips, prepares, primes, rehearses, hardens, inures, seasons, toughens, alters, converts, makes over, modifies, recasts, reclaims, recycles, redesigns, redevelops, redoes, reengineers, refashions, refigures, refits, refocuses, reinvents, rejiggers, remakes, remodels, revamps, revises, reworks, transforms
    opposite: misadjusts

  2. as in stripes, speckles

    similar: checkers, dapples, daubs, flecks, marbles, mottles, polychromes, speckles, specks, streaks, striates, stripes, variegates, darkens, embrowns, tones (down), brightens, lightens, bepaints (archaic), colors, dyes, paints, pigments, stains, tinctures, tinges, tints
    opposite: decolorizes, blanches, bleaches, whitens

Related Entry: Pattern (noun)

Pattern is a different word from Patterns. The synonyms below are for pattern, not for patterns.

  1. a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric)

    "a coverlet with a nosegay of tiny pink roses as the pattern"

    similar: design, figure, motif, motive
    related: scheme, device, adornment, caparison, decoration, embellishment, frill, garnish, ornament, trim

  2. a usual manner of behaving or doing

    "her daily pattern begins with coffee and a bagel every morning for breakfast"

    similar: custom, fashion, habit, habitude, practice, ritual, second nature, trick, way, wont
    related: addiction, disposition, bent, inclination, proclivity, set, tendency, tenor, turn, bag, convention, form, mode, style, usage, use, deportment, manners, mores, drill, groove, jog trot, regime, regimen, rote, routine, rut, affectation, airs, pose, attribute, characteristic, mark, trait, eccentricity, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, tic

  3. an established and often automatic or monotonous series of actions followed when engaging in some activity

    "with her, everything must be done strictly according to pattern"

    similar: drill, grind, groove, lockstep, rote, routine, rut, treadmill
    related: daily dozen, regimen, housekeeping, custom, fashion, habit, practice, trick, wont, approach, manner, method, procedure, strategy, style, tack, technique, way, design, plan, program, scheme, convention, policy, tradition

  4. the way in which the elements of something (as a work of art) are arranged

    "many of the artist's paintings use the same pattern of a lone figure surrounded by a vast landscape"

    similar: arrangement, composition, configuration, constellation, design, form, format, getup, layout, makeup, ordonnance
    related: motif, theme

Related Entry: Holding patterns (noun)

Holding patterns is a different word from Patterns. The synonyms below are for holding patterns, not for patterns.

  1. a state of temporary inactivity

    "repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter"

    similar: abeyances, cold storages, deep freezes, doldrums, dormancies, latencies, moratoriums, quiescences, suspended animations, suspenses, suspensions
    related: inactions, inertias, impasses, standstills, comas, hibernations, hypnoses, reposes, rests, sleeps, slumbers, torpors, recesses, recessions, remissions, downtimes, layoffs
    opposite: continuances, continuations
    near: recommencements, renewals, resumptions, resuscitations

  2. an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business

    "the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape"

    similar: delays, detainments, detentions, holdbacks, holdups, waits
    related: deferments, deferrals, postponements, reprieves, respites, foot-draggings, hesitations, lags, pauses, setbacks, slowdowns
    near: hastes, rushes, dispatches, promptitudes

Related Entry: Holding pattern (noun)

Holding pattern is a different word from Patterns. The synonyms below are for holding pattern, not for patterns.

  1. a state of temporary inactivity

    "repair work on the bridge was in a holding pattern for the duration of the winter"

    similar: abeyance, cold storage, deep freeze, doldrums, dormancy, latency, moratorium, quiescence, suspended animation, suspense, suspension
    related: inaction, inertia, inertness, motionlessness, impasse, standstill, coma, hibernation, hypnosis, repose, rest, sleep, slumber, torpor, recess, recession, remission, downtime, idleness, layoff
    opposite: continuance, continuation
    near: recommencement, renewal, resumption, resuscitation

  2. an instance or period of being prevented from going about one's business

    "the couple has been trapped in this holding pattern for six months, as adoption officials create more red tape"

    similar: delay, detainment, detention, holdback, holdup, wait
    related: deferment, deferral, postponement, reprieve, respite, foot-dragging, hesitation, lag, pause, setback, slowdown
    near: haste, rush, dispatch, promptitude, promptness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Patterns

The most common words with a similar meaning to Patterns:

Archaic: bepaints
designs, figures, motifs, motives, customs, fashions, habits, habitudes, practices, rituals, tricks, ways, wonts, drills, grinds, grooves, locksteps, rotes, routines, ruts, treadmills, arrangements, compositions, configurations, constellations, formats, forms, getups, layouts, makeups, ordonnances, customizes, gears, matches, models, acclimates, acclimatizes, accommodates, adapts, adjusts

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Patterns

Words with the opposite meaning of Patterns:

misadjusts, decolorizes, blanches, bleaches, whitens

Related Words for Patterns

schemes, devices, adornments, caparisons, decorations, embellishments, frills, garnishes, ornaments, trims, addictions, dispositions, bents, inclinations, proclivities, sets, tendencies, tenors, turns, bags, conventions, modes, styles, usages, uses, deportments, manners, mores, jog trots, regimens

Word Forms of Patterns

Inflections: patterned, patterning, repatterned, re-patterned, repatterning, re-patterning

Derived words: patterned (adjective), patternless (adjective)

Phrases & Idioms with Patterns

  • a thought — a little; somewhat

Origin & Etymology of Patterns

Middle English patron, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin patronus

First known use: circa 1586t

Words & Phrases Containing Patterns

thought patterns/processes

Frequently Asked Questions about Patterns

What does "Patterns" mean?

"Patterns" means match. As an a verb, a noun and a plural noun, it is defined as: match. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Patterns"?

Other words for "Patterns" include designs, figures, motifs, motives, customs, fashions, habits and habitudes. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Patterns" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Patterns"?

There are 179 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Patterns". Common alternatives include designs, figures, motifs, motives, customs, fashions, habits, habitudes, practices and rituals.

What is the opposite of "Patterns"?

Antonyms of "Patterns" include misadjusts, decolorizes, blanches, bleaches and whitens.

How do you use "Patterns" in a sentence?

Examples of "Patterns" in a sentence: "a coverlet with a nosegay of tiny pink roses as the pattern"; "her daily pattern begins with coffee and a bagel every morning for breakfast"; "with her, everything must be done strictly according to pattern".

Is "Patterns" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Patterns" can be used as a verb, a noun and a plural noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Patterns"?

"Patterns" is pronounced /ˈpa-tərn/ as a noun, /(ˌ)rē-ˈpa-tərn/ as a verb and /ˈthȯt/ as a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Patterns"?

"Patterns" comes from Middle English patron, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin patronus. First known use: circa 1586t.