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tendency

[ ten-duhn-see ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural tendencies.

a natural or prevailing disposition to move, proceed, or act in some direction or toward some point, end, or result:
the tendency of falling bodies toward the earth.
an inclination, bent, or predisposition to something:
a tendency to talk too much.
Synonyms: ,
a special and definite purpose in a novel or other literary work.

tendency

/ ˈ��ɛ�Ի�ə�Բ�ɪ /

noun

often foll by to an inclination, predisposition, propensity, or leaning
she has a tendency to be frivolous
a tendency to frivolity
the general course, purport, or drift of something, esp a written work
a faction, esp one within a political party
the militant tendency

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Other Word Forms

��ǳܲ�t��·�ٱ�Ի�Ĳ�·�� noun plural countertendencies

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tendency¹

From the Medieval Latin word tendentia, dating back to 1620–30. See tend ¹, -ency

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tendency¹

C17: from Medieval Latin tendentia, from Latin tendere to tend ¹

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Synonym Study

Tendency, direction, trend, drift refer to inclination or line of action or movement. A tendency is an inclination toward a certain line of action (whether or not the action follows), and is often the result of inherent qualities, nature, or habit: a tendency to procrastinate. Direction is the line along which an object or course of action moves, often toward some set point or intended goal: The change is in the direction of improvement. Trend emphasizes simultaneous movement in a certain direction of a number of factors, although the course or goal may not be clear for any single feature: Business indicators showed a downward trend. Drift emphasizes gradual development as well as direction: the drift of his argument.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That is, our episodic memories are pieced together from a small number of concepts embellished by the brain's tendency to make up less important details, or to remain fuzzy about them.

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Meeting after meeting, they repeat the theme: Quintana’s problems may have been exacerbated by the impenetrability of her parents’ bond, or by her mother’s tendency to distance.

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After plucking up the courage to seek help, I was eventually diagnosed with anorexia nervosa with binging tendencies.

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It chronicled Trump’s autocratic tendencies — his attacks on the press, the judiciary and the electoral system — and warned that one of the world’s oldest democracies was in peril.

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Given their tendency to range widely, he said there’s no reason to assume they’ll stay put in far-flung areas.

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Related Words

tendance tendency tone

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