tendency
Americannoun
plural
tendencies-
a natural or prevailing disposition to move, proceed, or act in some direction or toward some point, end, or result.
the tendency of falling bodies toward the earth.
-
an inclination, bent, or predisposition to something.
a tendency to talk too much.
- Synonyms:
- leaning, proclivity
-
a special and definite purpose in a novel or other literary work.
noun
-
(often foll by to) an inclination, predisposition, propensity, or leaning
she has a tendency to be frivolous
a tendency to frivolity
-
the general course, purport, or drift of something, esp a written work
-
a faction, esp one within a political party
the militant tendency
Related Words
Tendency, direction, trend, drift refer to inclination or line of action or movement. A tendency is an inclination toward a certain line of action (whether or not the action follows), and is often the result of inherent qualities, nature, or habit: a tendency to procrastinate. Direction is the line along which an object or course of action moves, often toward some set point or intended goal: The change is in the direction of improvement. Trend emphasizes simultaneous movement in a certain direction of a number of factors, although the course or goal may not be clear for any single feature: Business indicators showed a downward trend. Drift emphasizes gradual development as well as direction: the drift of his argument.
Other Word Forms
- countertendency noun
Etymology
Origin of tendency
From the Medieval Latin word tendentia, dating back to 1620–30. See tend 1, -ency
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Two-legged robots have a tendency to fall over and “need human intervention to get back up,” like tortoises fallen on their backs.
From Los Angeles Times
These businesses were picked almost certainly because Shirley and his colleagues have tapped into the long-standing tendency of paranoid reactionaries to make day cares the subject of conspiracy theories.
From Salon
The Rams were atop a lot of power rankings for much of this season, but they have had a tendency to go ice cold at times.
From Los Angeles Times
We found that they may have a tendency to highlight particular perspectives while omitting or diminishing others.
From Salon
“He knew what they liked to run, their tendencies and stuff like that.”
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
