tendency
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a habit of acting or thinking in a certain way, or a pattern that you see over time.
an inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behaviour. Often used with the preposition 'to' or 'towards'.
Simple“She has a tendency to talk very fast when she is nervous.”
In context“Economists have noted a growing tendency among younger consumers to prioritise sustainable sourcing over brand loyalty when making household purchases.”
UsageCommonly follows the pattern 'tendency to do something' or 'tendency towards something'.
PitfallHe has a tendency of arriving late. He has a tendency to arrive late.The noun 'tendency' is usually followed by an infinitive (to + verb) rather than 'of' + gerund.
SynonymsAntonymsaversiondisinclination - 02 C1 Advanced
a group of people within a larger political party who share the same specific ideas.
a distinct faction or organised subgroup within a larger political party or movement, often holding more radical or specific views than the main body.
Simple“The radical tendency within the party disagreed with the new leadership.”
In context“The moderate wing of the party struggled to reconcile its platform with the demands of the militant tendency that had gained influence in the northern branches.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is quite formal and specific to political history or theory; in everyday conversation, people usually use 'wing' or 'faction'.
Usage general tendency · greater tendency · natural tendency
From Medieval Latin tendentia, from tendens, present participle of tendō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.