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
Related Words
See tendency.
Other Word Forms
- countertrend noun
- subtrend noun
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;” trindle, trundle
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.
What’s Next: Among new vessels, the trend is toward “larger, highly bespoke builds,” Fraser said.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
Over many decades, the queen in her public appearances maintained a silhouette of practicality over trend, usually a structured jacket and matching hat, along with Anello & Davide calf leather loafers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
Satellite observations show that the planet is steadily getting brighter at night, but the trend is far from uniform.
From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026
In February, BBC News reported on a wave of AI-generated videos falsely depicting a "taxpayer-funded water park" in Croydon, part of the wider trend portraying London as a city in decline.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
The Fox sisters’ claim of spirit communIcation fit nicely within this popular trend of investigation as entertainment.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
