trend
Americannoun
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the general course or prevailing tendency; drift.
trends in the teaching of foreign languages; the trend of events.
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style or vogue.
the new trend in women's apparel.
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the general direction followed by a road, river, coastline, or the like.
verb (used without object)
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to have a general tendency, as events, conditions, etc.
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to tend to take a particular direction; extend in some direction indicated.
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to emerge as a popular trend; be currently popular.
words that have trended this year.
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Digital Technology. to be widely mentioned or discussed on the internet, especially in posts on social media websites.
news stories that are trending online.
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to veer or turn off in a specified direction, as a river, mountain range, etc..
The river trends toward the southeast.
noun
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general tendency or direction
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fashion; mode
verb
Synonym Usage
See tendency.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have trendedperfect
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has trendedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been trendingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is trendingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am trendingprogressive 1st person singular
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trendssingular 3rd person
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are trendingprogressive
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have been trendingperfect progressive
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trendingparticiple
Past
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had trendedperfect
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was trendingprogressive singular
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trendedparticiple
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were trendingprogressive plural
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trendedsimple
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had been trendingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of trend
First recorded before 1000; Middle English trenden “to turn, roll,” Old English trendan; akin to Old English trinde “ball,” Dutch trent “circumference,” Swedish trind “round;” see trindle, trundle
Explanation
A trend is what's hip or popular at a certain point in time. While a trend usually refers to a certain style in fashion or entertainment, there could be a trend toward warmer temperatures (if people are following trends associated with global warming). A trend simply reflects what seems to be going around at any given time. A trend can be in any area and doesn't only reflect fashion, pop culture and entertainment. There can also be a trend in the stock market to be bullish or bearish, depending on economic indicators, or a political trend reflecting a nation’s current mood. Some trends are fun, some fabulous, some appalling, but however long they last, you can be sure there will always be a new trend coming along to replace the old.
Vocabulary lists containing trend
The Scientific Method
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The Catcher in the Rye
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Word Generation Science - Introductory Chemistry Concepts
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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.
It's a trend that has filled TikTok and Pinterest as pupils look for more permanent mementos to be signed by their friends, while online marketplaces like Etsy offer thousands of personalised shirts for a fee.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
That isn’t to say the downward trend should be ignored.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
Some people on TikTok said they worried shirt designs would be judged by other students, but Nzau hopes the trend will "subconsciously inspire people to be themselves".
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
This means retail investors have benefited from the semiconductor rally — however, they could see outsize losses if the trend reverses.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
Here there were wide spaces interspersed with thickets and huge trees and the trend of the ground led him up as the forest opened.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
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.
