tendency

4 definitions • 5 examples

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.

a likelihood to happen or to have a particular characteristic or effect:

She has a tendency to work late.

There’s a growing tendency to try kids as adults.