tendency

tendency — noun

1. A tendency is a habitual or likely way of behaving — a personal pattern that sha

1.nounB1
Definition

A tendency is a habitual or likely way of behaving — a personal pattern that shapes how someone regularly acts, reacts, or feels.

Example

Tendai has a tendency to arrive late whenever the traffic is heavy on the highway.

tendency + to-infinitive with conditional clause

Madison's tendency to worry about small details often slows down her team's progress.

possessive + tendency + to-infinitive as subject

Common collocations
  • strong tendency
  • natural tendency
  • personal tendency
  • have a tendency to
  • show a tendency to
Synonyms
  • inclination

    Suggests a more deliberate preference or desire; slightly more formal.

  • propensity

    Implies a stronger, sometimes involuntary drive; more formal.

  • leaning

    More informal; describes a mild preference that may not lead to action.

Grammar Patterns

someone's tendency to do something

a tendency to do something

Usage Note

This sense always describes a personal behavioural pattern, so the subject of the possessive determiner is typically a person. The noun requires a determiner (a, the, my, his, her, etc.) — tendency is countable and cannot stand alone without one.

Common Mistakes

I have tendency to be late.
I have a tendency to be late.
tendency is a countable noun and needs an article or determiner.
She has a tendency of being late.
She has a tendency to be late.
tendency is followed by to + infinitive, not of + gerund.

2. A tendency is a general direction or pattern in which events, conditions, or nat

2.nounB2
Definition

A tendency is a general direction or pattern in which events, conditions, or natural systems develop or change over time — for example, a tendency for prices to rise during a certain season.

Example

There is a growing tendency for young people to rent rather than buy a home.

tendency + for [noun] + to-infinitive

Wei observed a tendency for prices to rise whenever the rainy season begins.

Common collocations
  • growing tendency
  • general tendency
  • clear tendency
  • a tendency for something to happen
  • observe a tendency
Synonyms
  • trend

    More data-driven and statistical; often used in business or social analysis.

  • pattern

    Focuses on repetition and recognisable shape; broader in use.

  • drift

    Suggests a slow, gradual movement in a particular direction; slightly literary.

Grammar Patterns

a tendency for [noun] to [verb]

a tendency toward [noun]

a tendency of [noun] to [verb]

Common Mistakes

There is tendency for rain.
There is a tendency for it to rain in the winter.
tendency needs a determiner and typically a fuller clause rather than a bare noun.

3. A tendency is a noticeable shift or movement toward a particular state, where so

3.nounC1
Definition

A tendency is a noticeable shift or movement toward a particular state, where something becomes more frequent, more intense, or more common over time.

Example

Vikram noticed a tendency among older workers to resist new software systems.

tendency + among + [group] + to-infinitive

The tendency toward shorter work weeks has gained support in several countries.

Common collocations
  • a tendency toward
  • increasing tendency
  • recent tendency
  • noticeable tendency
Synonyms
  • movement

    Emphasises collective action or social change; broader in scope.

  • shift

    Highlights a change from one state to another; often used for cultural or organisational change.

  • direction

    Focuses on the endpoint or goal rather than the process of change.

Grammar Patterns

a tendency toward [noun]

a tendency to [verb]

a tendency for [noun] to [verb]

Usage Note

This sense overlaps with 'trend' but is slightly more abstract — tendency here describes the direction of change rather than a measurable statistical pattern. Common in academic and analytical writing.

Word family

  • tend
    verbB1
  • tendentious
    adjectiveC2
  • tendentiously
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe a likelihood to behave or think in a certain way, but they differ in strength, register, and scope. Tendency is the most general and common word — it simply describes what someone usually does or is likely to do, without implying a reason. Inclination suggests a more deliberate preference or desire ('her inclination was to say no'), while propensity implies a stronger, sometimes involuntary drive ('a propensity for taking risks'). Leaning is more informal and suggests a mild preference that may not determine action ('his political leanings are liberal'). Predisposition is a formal or medical term describing a pre-existing vulnerability, often physical or genetic ('a predisposition to diabetes'). For everyday use, tendency covers most situations; for precise writing, choose the word that best matches the strength and nature of the pull.

tendency ↗inclinationpropensityleaningpredisposition

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a tendency to
  • the tendency of
  • a tendency for

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Tendency comes from Latin 'tendere,' meaning 'to stretch, extend, or aim.' The word entered English through French 'tendance' and Medieval Latin 'tendentia' in the 1600s. The original idea of 'stretching toward something' gradually shifted to mean 'having a natural inclination or direction toward something.'