tendencynoun [ C ]
uk/ˈten.dən.si/us/ˈten.dən.si/C1 If someone has a tendency to do or like something, they will probably do it or like it:
[ + to infinitive ] His tendency to exaggerate is well known.
If there is a tendency for something to happen, it is likely to happen or it often happens:
There is a tendency for unemployment to rise in the summer.
If there is a tendency to do something, it starts to happen more often or starts to increase:
[ + to infinitive ] There is a growing tendency to regard money more highly than quality of life.
More examples
- He complained that there was a tendency to equate right-wing politics with self-interest.
- There is a tendency in films to make the equation between violence and excitement.
- Apparently some people have an inborn tendency to develop certain kinds of tumour.
- She's one of those authors who has a tendency to overwrite.
- Our best intentions are sometimes subverted by our natural tendency to selfishness.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Habitual behaviour
- atavistic
- creature
- creature of habit idiom
- custom
- diet
- disposition
- dog
- force
- kink
- leaning
- penchant
- practice
- predisposition
- proclivity
- programme
- propensity
- take
- wont
- you can't teach an old dog new tricks idiom
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