What does "trending" mean?

1. (popular on the internet) popular or becoming very popular on social media or the internet right now. 2. (moving in a direction) the act of moving or changing in a certain direction over time. 3. (a current movement) a specific topic or style that is popular at the moment.

How do you use "trending"?

Often used as a predicative adjective after the verb 'to be'. Usually followed by an adverb of direction like 'upwards', 'downwards', or 'lower'.

1 popular on the internet (adj.)
B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

popular or becoming very popular on social media or the internet right now.

currently popular or widely discussed, particularly within digital platforms or social media networks.

Example

The new dance challenge is trending on TikTok this week.

Example

The marketing team monitored which hashtags were trending to ensure their campaign aligned with current consumer interests.

Usage

Often used as a predicative adjective after the verb 'to be'.
- dated
- forgotten
2 moving in a direction (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

the act of moving or changing in a certain direction over time.

the present participle of 'trend', indicating a general direction in which something is developing or changing.

Example

House prices have been trending upwards for the last three years.

Example

Economists noted that inflation was trending lower, suggesting that the recent policy changes were finally having the intended effect.

Usage

Usually followed by an adverb of direction like 'upwards', 'downwards', or 'lower'.
- stabilising

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3 a current movement (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Technical Computing

a specific topic or style that is popular at the moment.

a specific instance of a trend or a popular topic within a digital ecosystem.

Example

The latest trending is all about sustainable fashion and recycling.

Example

The software provides a real-time list of trendings across various geographic regions to help journalists identify breaking news.

Teacher's tip

Using 'trending' as a noun is less common than the adjective form; most speakers prefer to simply use the word 'trend'.