Words / B2

TEND-uh-nsee/ˈtendənsi/

A tendency is a likelihood of behaving in a certain way: a tendency to + verb; a growing tendency. Trend is closer to social or market change; habit is more personal and repeated. Tend is already in the dictionary. Do not write “tendency of doing” — use to-infinitive. Academic: there is a tendency in the literature to…

Meaning

If there is a tendency to do something, it happens often or is likely.

Examples

• “There is a tendency to overstate small survey samples.”
• “He has a tendency to interrupt, which is why the chair timed turns.”

Good to know

a tendency to + verb; a growing tendency. Related: tend. Social change: trend. Personal repetition: habit. Not “tendency of doing”.

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