# trending

/ˈtɹɛndɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈɛndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trending
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. popular on the internet

adjective · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

- The new dance challenge is trending on TikTok this week.
- 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'.

### 2. moving in a direction

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

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

### 3. a current movement

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Technical

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

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

- The latest trending is all about sustainable fashion and recycling.
- The software provides a real-time list of trendings across various geographic regions to help journalists identify breaking news.

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

## Examples

- The new dance challenge is trending on social media right now.
- Marketing teams often monitor which topics are trending to ensure their advertisements reach the widest possible audience.
- While some topics remain trending for only a few hours, others reflect deeper cultural shifts that dominate public discourse for weeks before eventually fading from the collective consciousness.

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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.