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trend

n. · v.
US //ˈtɹɛnd// UK //tɹˈɛnd// trend
  1. 1 general direction of change (n.)
    B1 Intermediate General-service

    a general direction in which something is developing or changing over time.

    a general direction in which something is developing or changing. Often used in social or economic contexts to describe long-term shifts.

    Example

    There is a growing trend toward working from home in many industries.

    Example

    Economists have noted a downward trend in consumer spending over the last three quarters, suggesting a cooling of the national economy.
  2. 2 fashion or fad (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a fashion or style that is popular right now.

    a prevailing style or custom; a fad. Often implies a temporary or cyclical nature.

    Example

    Wide-leg jeans are the latest fashion trend among teenagers.

    Example

    The marketing team is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly shifting trends of the digital entertainment market.
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  1. 3 statistical pattern (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Technical Math

    a line on a graph that shows the general direction of data points.

    a line or mathematical pattern on a graph that approximates the direction of a set of data points.

    Example

    The trend on the chart shows that temperatures are rising every year.

    Example

    By applying a linear regression, the researcher identified a clear upward trend that remained significant even after adjusting for seasonal outliers.
  2. 4 to be popular online (v.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    to be very popular on social media at a specific moment.

    to be the subject of a current trend, particularly on social media platforms where topics are ranked by real-time engagement.

    Example

    The hashtag started trending on Twitter just minutes after the news broke.

    Example

    The video began trending globally after several high-profile influencers shared it with their respective audiences.

    Usage

    The verb is intransitive and often used in the continuous form.
    • go viral
  3. 5 to move in a direction (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    to move or change in a certain direction over time.

    to exhibit a tendency or to move in a specified direction. Intransitive; often followed by 'toward' or 'upwards/downwards'.

    Example

    Stock prices have been trending upward for the past month.

    Example

    Public opinion has been trending toward more conservative policies as the election approaches.
Etymology 1

From Middle English trenden (“to roll about, turn, revolve”), from Old English trendan (“to roll about, turn, revolve”), from Proto-West Germanic trandijan (“to turn, roll, revolve”), apparently derived from a strong verb Proto-West Germanic trindan. Cognate with Dutch trent (“circumference”). Akin to Old English trinde (“ball”), Old English tryndel (“circle, ring”). More at trindle, trundle.

Etymology 2

Compare German trennen (“to separate”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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