Definition Definition

tendency - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'tendency' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Tendency [ n.]
- Direction or course toward any place, object, effect, or result; drift; causal or efficient influence to bring about an effect or result.

Meaning of 'tendency' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . tendency [ n]
Meaning (1):
- an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others
Example in sentence:
  • a tendency to be too strict;
  • he had an inclination to give up too easily
Meaning (2):
- a characteristic likelihood of or natural disposition toward a certain condition or character or effect
Example in sentence:
  • fabric with a tendency to shrink;
  • the alkaline inclination of the local waters
Meaning (3):
- an inclination to do something
Example in sentence:
  • he felt leanings toward frivolity
Meaning (4):
- a general direction in which something tends to move
Example in sentence:
  • the shoreward tendency of the current;
  • the trend of the stock market