Trend — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈtrend/

Meaning & Definition of Trend

Trend (noun)

  1. a prevailing tendency or inclination, drift
  2. a general movement, swing
  3. a current style or preference, vogue

Trend (verb)

  1. to show a tendency, incline
  2. to become deflected, shift
  3. to extend in a general direction, follow a general course

Trend (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a prevailing or general movement or inclination

    "according to the survey, there's a growing trend for companies to run their own day-care centers for the benefit of employees"

    similar: current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, wind
    related: curve, downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside, custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way, countercurrent, countertrend, undercurrent, undertow

  2. a practice or interest that is very popular for a short time

    "still had a coat from the last trend for fake fur, when the material lined everything from boots to coats to bracelets"

    similar: buzz, chic, craze, dernier cri, enthusiasm, fad, fashion, flavor, go, hot ticket, last word, latest, mode, rage, sensation, style, ton, vogue
    related: nine days' wonder, new wave, crush, infatuation, fervor, passion, furor, fuss, hullabaloo, to-do, uproar, bandwagon, crusade, cult, movement, novelty, wrinkle, caprice, fancy, whim
    near: classic, standard

Trend (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to show a liking or proneness (for something)

    "during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake"

    similar: incline, lean, run, tend
    related: go, gravitate, indicate, point, suggest
    near: avoid, shun, shy (from or away from)

  2. to turn away from a straight line or course

    "the river trends east, then west again, forming an oxbow"

    similar: arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, round, sweep, swerve, wheel
    related: circle, coil, curlicue, curl, loop, spiral, turn, twist, wind, deviate, veer
    opposite: straighten

Related Entry: Trendsetters (noun)

Trendsetters is a different word from Trend. The synonyms below are for trendsetters, not for trend.

  1. one that takes the lead or sets an example

    "a closely watched trendsetter in women's fashions"

    similar: bellwethers, leaders, pacemakers, pacers, pacesetters
    related: foregoers, forerunners, harbingers, heralds, precursors, groundbreakers, innovators, pioneers
    opposite: followers, imitators
    near: Johnny-come-latelies, me-tooers

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Trend

The most common words with a similar meaning to Trend:

current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, wind, buzz, chic, craze, dernier cri, enthusiasm, fad, fashion, flavor, go, hot ticket, last word, latest, mode, rage, sensation, style, ton, vogue, incline, lean, tend, arc, arch, bend, bow, crook, curve, fall off, hook, round, sweep, swerve

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Trend

Words with the opposite meaning of Trend:

straighten

Related Words for Trend

downside, shift, swing, turn, turnabout, upside, custom, habit, propensity, tenor, way, countercurrent, countertrend, undercurrent, undertow, nine days' wonder, new wave, crush, infatuation, fervor, passion, furor, fuss, hullabaloo, to-do, uproar, bandwagon, crusade, cult, movement

Near Antonyms of Trend

classic, standard, avoid, shun, shy (from or away from)

Word Forms of Trend

Inflections: trended, trending, trends

Origin & Etymology of Trend

Middle English, to turn, revolve, from Old English trendan; akin to Middle High German trendel disk, spinning top

First known use: circa 1777

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Trend

Words & Phrases Containing Trend

set/start a (new) trend, countertrend, subtrend, trendsetter, trendsetting, trendspotter

Frequently Asked Questions about Trend

What does "Trend" mean?

"Trend" means a prevailing tendency or inclination, drift. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a prevailing tendency or inclination, drift. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Trend"?

Other words for "Trend" include current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide and wind. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Trend" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Trend"?

There are 89 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Trend". Common alternatives include current, direction, drift, leaning, run, tendency, tide, wind, buzz and chic.

What is the opposite of "Trend"?

Antonyms of "Trend" include straighten. Near antonyms include classic, standard, avoid and shun.

How do you use "Trend" in a sentence?

Examples of "Trend" in a sentence: "according to the survey, there's a growing trend for companies to run their own day-care centers for the benefit of employees"; "still had a coat from the last trend for fake fur, when the material lined everything from boots to coats to bracelets"; "during the winter our school system trends toward canceling school at the drop of a hat—or at least a snowflake".

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

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

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

As a B1-level word, "Trend" 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+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Trend"?

"Trend" is pronounced /ˈtrend/.