Trade — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈtrād/

Meaning & Definition of Trade

Trade (noun)

  1. the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities, commerce
  2. business, market
  3. dealings between persons or groups

Trade (verb)

  1. to give one thing in exchange for another
  2. to engage in the exchange, purchase, or sale of goods
  3. to make one's purchases, shop

Trade (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or used in trade
  2. intended for or limited to persons in a business or industry
  3. serving others in the same business rather than the ultimate user or consumer

Trade (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another

    "when the other team unexpectedly offered to hand over its top pitcher for our star shortstop, our coach agreed to the trade"

  2. an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands

    "a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking"

  3. the activity by which one regularly makes a living

    "writing is my trade"

  4. the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places

    "a bill regulating trade with that country"

  5. the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price

    "the trade of all of her holdings in the company just before the stock plunged in value immediately aroused suspicions"

    similar: deal, sale, transaction

Trade (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property

    "the U.S. agreed to trade with China"

    similar: deal, traffic
    near: black (chiefly British), blackball, boycott
  2. to give up (something) and take something else in return

    "I'll trade my chocolate chip cookie for your bag of chips"

Related Entry: Trade-off (noun)

Trade-off is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade-off, not for trade.

  1. a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another

    "a trade-off in which a company got a celebrity spokesperson and a fading star got some much-needed cash"

Related Entry: Trade on (phrase)

Trade on is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade on, not for trade.

  1. to take unfair advantage of

    "She knew how to trade on her charming demeanor."

Related Entry: Trade (for) (verb)

Trade (for) is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade (for), not for trade.

  1. as in exchange (for), deal (for)

Related Entry: Trade (in) (verb)

Trade (in) is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade (in), not for trade.

  1. as in deal (in), distribute

Related Entry: Trade book (noun)

Trade book is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade book, not for trade.

  1. as in paper, trade edition

Related Entry: Trade books (noun)

Trade books is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade books, not for trade.

  1. as in papers, trade editions

Related Entry: Trade edition (noun)

Trade edition is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade edition, not for trade.

  1. as in paper, trade book

Related Entry: Trade editions (noun)

Trade editions is a different word from Trade. The synonyms below are for trade editions, not for trade.

  1. as in papers, trade books

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Trade

The most common words with a similar meaning to Trade:

Near Antonyms of Trade

Word Forms of Trade

Inflections: traded, trading

Derived words: tradable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Trade

Middle English, from Middle Low German; akin to Old High German trata track, course, Old English tredan to tread

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Trade

Words & Phrases Containing Trade

Frequently Asked Questions about Trade

What does "Trade" mean?

"Trade" means the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities, commerce. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: the business of buying and selling or bartering commodities, commerce. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Trade"?

Other words for "Trade" include back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, exchange, quid pro quo, swap and trade-off. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Trade" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Trade"?

There are 137 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Trade". Common alternatives include back-and-forth, barter, commutation, dicker, exchange, quid pro quo, swap, trade-off, truck and art.

How do you use "Trade" in a sentence?

Examples of "Trade" in a sentence: "when the other team unexpectedly offered to hand over its top pitcher for our star shortstop, our coach agreed to the trade"; "a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking"; "writing is my trade".

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

"Trade" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Trade" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Trade" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Trade"?

"Trade" is pronounced /ˈtrād/.

What is the origin of the word "Trade"?

"Trade" comes from Middle English, from Middle Low German; akin to Old High German trata track, course, Old English tredan to tread. First known use: 15th century.