# trading

/ˈtɹeɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈeɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trading
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. buying and selling

noun · CEFR B1

the act of buying and selling things, especially on a large scale or in financial markets.

For teachers: the activity or business of buying and selling goods and services, or the exchange of financial assets.

- Online trading has made it much easier for regular people to buy stocks.
- The volume of high-frequency trading on the stock exchange has increased significantly over the last decade, leading to concerns about market stability.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general activity.

### 2. involved in commerce

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe a person, company, or country that buys and sells things.

For teachers: engaged in trade or commerce; used attributively to describe entities or periods involved in commercial exchange.

- The city has been an important trading centre for hundreds of years.
- The company released its annual report, highlighting a successful trading year despite the global economic downturn.

Usage: Almost always appears before the noun it modifies.

### 3. exchanging

verb · CEFR B1

the action of exchanging one thing for another.

For teachers: the present participle or gerund of 'trade', describing the ongoing act of exchange.

- I am thinking of trading my old car for a newer model.
- By trading information with their competitors, the two firms managed to establish a more efficient supply chain.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'with'.

## Examples

- Online trading has become very popular among young investors.
- The company suspended all trading on the stock exchange after the news of the merger was leaked.
- While high-frequency trading can provide liquidity to the markets, some economists argue that it introduces unnecessary volatility and systemic risk during periods of economic uncertainty.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.