tendency
Americannoun
-
tendencies
plural
-
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
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the general course, purport, or drift of something, esp a written work
-
a faction, esp one within a political party
the militant tendency
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of tendency
From the Medieval Latin word tendentia, dating back to 1620–30. See tend 1, -ency
Explanation
A tendency is an inclination to do something. For example, dogs have a tendency to bark at strangers and the mail man. We all have tendencies: things we're inclined to do, or like to do, or just can't help doing. Morning people have a tendency to get up early. Basketball players usually have a tendency to go right or left. Optimists have a tendency to look on the bright side of things; pessimists have the opposite tendency. Other things have tendencies too, like how the stock market tends to go up and down.
Vocabulary lists containing tendency
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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.
See Examples For:
When someone says things are different this time, Wall Street has a tendency to be skeptical, because market trends often last longer than expected.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
“I doubt that we could remove every cultural tendency from a model, because language and culture are deeply intertwined,” Lu told me.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
"There's been a tendency for an increase in adults and the elderly coming to the general clinic," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
While Geese has a tendency to channel and then rearrange rock history, Mr. Winter’s solo work has no such tether.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
“Entropy is the tendency of everything to move toward confusion and disorder as time passes,” he explained.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
"Every species has different habitat requirements, has its own particular behavioral tendencies and faces unique threats. Effective conservation requires that we understand the particular challenges that each species faces."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026
But for Kusama, art wasn’t a path chosen for fame and fortune; art was a sublimation and a salve for her compulsive tendencies and psychotic episodes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Another reason she might be withholding guidance is that she possesses some narcissistic tendencies, Smith says.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
"For me, I know that my avoidant tendencies are toxic and it would be unfair for me to date someone right now," she says.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
A folded dollar bill holding down the switch, stopping the alarm from blaring and letting everyone in the hospital know some crazy guy with cystic fibrosis and self-destructive tendencies is hanging out on the roof.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
