tendency
gb/tˈɛndənsi/ us/tˈɛndənsi/
B1
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
property
1
usual way of behaving or thinking
A way that someone often behaves or thinks.
Usage pattern:
a tendency to [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tendency' with 'trend'. 'Tendency' is about personal or habitual behavior, while 'trend' is about general changes over time in groups or society.
Synonyms
inclination (Slightly more formal; often used in both personal and abstract contexts.)
|
propensity (More formal and sometimes implies a stronger or less desirable habit.)
Antonyms
aversion (Implies a strong dislike or avoidance, the opposite of a leaning toward something.)
Collocations
natural tendency
|strong tendency
|have a tendency
|display a tendency
|tendency toward
Themes
psychology
|daily life
|personality
|core_vocabulary
|emotions
Examples
- She has a tendency to speak very quickly when she's nervous.
- There's a growing tendency for people to work from home.
- My dog has a tendency to bark at strangers.
- He shows a tendency toward perfectionism in his work.
Learner examples
- I have a tendency to eat too much chocolate.
- She has a tendency to forget names.
- My cat has a tendency to sleep all day.
Noun
B2
relation
2
general direction of change
The way something is starting to change or move.
Usage pattern:
a tendency toward [noun/gerund]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with 'trend', but 'tendency' can be less about popularity and more about direction over time.
Synonyms
trend (More common in describing fashion, markets, or social change; often interchangeable but 'trend' can be broader.)
Antonyms
stability (Indicates no noticeable change or movement, opposite of a directional shift.)
Collocations
upward tendency
|downward tendency
|tendency toward growth
|market tendency
Themes
society
|business
|science
|core_vocabulary
|time
Examples
- The data shows a clear tendency toward higher temperatures over the past decade.
- There's a tendency in politics toward more polarized views.
- Economic indicators reveal a downward tendency in consumer spending.
Learner examples
- The weather has a tendency to get warmer in spring.
- Our team has a tendency to win more games at home.
- Prices show a tendency to go up before holidays.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tendency
IPA
GB/tˈɛndənsi/
US/tˈɛndənsi/
Syllables & stress
tend - ency (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tend)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tendency
- Plural: tendencies, tendency
Word family
Forms
tendencies
noun
Core family
tend
verb B1
Advanced or less common
tendentious
adjective
tendentiously
adverb
Expressions
have a tendency to
1/hˈæv ə tˈɛndənsi tə/
fixed phrase
usually behave in certain way
To often do something or behave in a certain way.
Examples
- I have a tendency to leave things until the last minute.
- She has a tendency to talk too much when she's excited.
tendency toward
1/tˈɛndənsi təwˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
movement or development direction
A movement or change toward something.
Examples
- There's been a tendency toward healthier eating in recent years.
- The artist's later work shows a tendency toward abstraction.