trading
gb/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ/ us/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ/
B1
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
action
1
buying and selling activity
The activity of buying and selling things, especially as a job or business.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is involved in trading
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'trading' with 'treating' because they sound similar.
Synonyms
commerce (A more general term for large-scale buying and selling, often formal.)
|
dealings (Informal term for business transactions or exchanges.)
Antonyms
consumption (Focuses on using goods rather than exchanging them.)
Collocations
online trading
|stock trading
|trading company
|trading platform
|trading day
Themes
business
|economics
|commerce
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She made a fortune through online trading.
- Trading in oil futures has slowed this week.
- They entered the Asian market through a trading partnership.
- Stock trading requires careful analysis and strategy.
- The company specializes in international trading.
Learner examples
- I am learning about stock trading.
- Trading is very active today.
- My uncle works in trading.
- Trading can be risky.
- They do trading with other countries.
Verb
B1
action
2
exchanging goods or services
To buy and sell goods or services, or to exchange them for something else.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is trading [goods/services] with [someone/place]
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'trade' only for international business, but it can also mean small, local exchanges.
Synonyms
exchanging (Emphasizes the swap aspect rather than commercial profit.)
|
selling (Focuses on giving goods for money, not necessarily buying.)
Antonyms
hoarding (Keeping goods without exchanging or selling them.)
Collocations
trading stocks
|trading goods
|trading internationally
|trading actively
Themes
business
|economics
|daily_life
Examples
- They are trading coffee beans with a company in Europe.
- He has been trading cryptocurrencies for two years.
- The market was busy with people trading handmade crafts.
- Several companies are trading actively on the exchange today.
Learner examples
- I am trading old books for new ones.
- She is trading fruit at the market.
- They are trading with people in another country.
- He is trading cars for money.
Noun
technical
B2
action
3
buying/selling on financial markets
Buying and selling shares, money, or other financial products on a special market.
Synonyms
speculation (Focuses on risky transactions aimed at quick profit.)
Antonyms
investing (Usually implies holding assets long-term rather than frequent buying and selling.)
Collocations
day trading
|forex trading
|options trading
|after-hours trading
Themes
business
|finance
Examples
- Day trading can be highly profitable but very risky.
- Forex trading involves dealing with different currencies.
- He lost money during after-hours trading yesterday.
Learner examples
- Forex trading is about buying and selling money.
- Day trading can make money fast but is dangerous.
- I want to learn about options trading.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trading
IPA
GB/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ/
US/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
trad - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (trad)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: trading
- Plural: tradings
Verb
- Base: trading
- 3rd Person Singular: tradings
- Present Participle: tradinging
- Past: tradinged
- Past Participle: tradinged
Word family
Expressions
trading blows
1/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ blˈoʊz/
idiom
exchange hits in a fight
To hit each other again and again during a fight.
Examples
- The two boxers were trading blows in the final round.
- Protesters and police were seen trading blows in the street.
trading down
1/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
replace with cheaper version
To sell something you own and buy something cheaper or smaller instead.
Examples
- Due to budget cuts, the company is trading down to smaller offices.
- He traded down from a sports car to a used sedan.
trading places
1/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ plˈeɪsɪz/
idiom
swap positions or roles
To change positions, situations, or roles with another person.
Examples
- After a while, the two drivers ended up trading places.
- In the debate, the speakers traded places to argue the opposite side.
trading up
1/tɹˈeɪdɪŋ ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
replace with better version
To sell something you own and buy something better or more expensive instead.
Examples
- They are trading up to a larger house.
- She traded up from an old phone to the newest model.