trend
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a general direction in which something is developing or changing over time.
n.a general direction in which something is developing or changing. Often used in social or economic contexts to describe long-term shifts.
Simple“There is a growing trend toward working from home in many industries.”
In context“Economists have noted a downward trend in consumer spending over the last three quarters, suggesting a cooling of the national economy.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a fashion or style that is popular right now.
n.a prevailing style or custom; a fad. Often implies a temporary or cyclical nature.
Simple“Wide-leg jeans are the latest fashion trend among teenagers.”
In context“The marketing team is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly shifting trends of the digital entertainment market.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a line on a graph that shows the general direction of data points.
n.a line or mathematical pattern on a graph that approximates the direction of a set of data points.
Simple“The trend on the chart shows that temperatures are rising every year.”
In context“By applying a linear regression, the researcher identified a clear upward trend that remained significant even after adjusting for seasonal outliers.”
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to be very popular on social media at a specific moment.
v.to be the subject of a current trend, particularly on social media platforms where topics are ranked by real-time engagement.
Simple“The hashtag started trending on Twitter just minutes after the news broke.”
In context“The video began trending globally after several high-profile influencers shared it with their respective audiences.”
UsageThe verb is intransitive and often used in the continuous form.
Synonymsgo viral - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to move or change in a certain direction over time.
v.to exhibit a tendency or to move in a specified direction. Intransitive; often followed by 'toward' or 'upwards/downwards'.
Simple“Stock prices have been trending upward for the past month.”
In context“Public opinion has been trending toward more conservative policies as the election approaches.”
Usage current trend · follow trend · future trend
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.
Compare German trennen (“to separate”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.