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tendencyan inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: an inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtendənsi/

Example Sentences

  • My cat has a tendency to sleep exactly where I want to sit.
  • There's a growing tendency among students to study at coffee shops.
  • He has a tendency to forget people's names within 5 seconds of meeting them.

tendency

NOUN

[/ˈtendənsi/]

an inclination toward a particular characteristic or type of behavior

He has a tendency to wake up early every morning.
💡 Concept

He has a tendency to wake up early every morning.

Prices showed a tendency to rise during the summer. (TEND + DIRECTION = TENDENCY → the direction in which something usually goes)
🧠 Mnemonic

Prices showed a tendency to rise during the summer. (TEND + DIRECTION = TENDENCY → the direction in which something usually goes)

A positive tendency, repeated with frequency, becomes consistency.
🎵 Rhyme

A positive tendency, repeated with frequency, becomes consistency.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈtendənsi/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈtendənsi/

🌳Etymology

Roottend
Suffix--ency

Origin

From Latin 'tendentia', derived from the present participle 'tendens' of the verb 'tendere' meaning 'to stretch, extend, or lean toward'. The suffix '-ency' was added to form an abstract noun indicating a quality or state.

Breakdown

tend- (to stretch, lean toward) + -ency (quality/state of) = tendency

🎵Rhyme

encyfrequencyency
ency
frequency
ency

🔗Collocations

natural tendency
tendency to increase
growing tendency
general tendency
tendency toward
strong tendency
recent tendency

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My cat has a tendency to sleep exactly where I want to sit.

There's a growing tendency among students to study at coffee shops.

😄 Fun example

He has a tendency to forget people's names within 5 seconds of meeting them.

The recent tendency shows that more people prefer online shopping.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

inclinationpropensitytrenddispositionproclivity

Antonyms

aversiondislikereluctance

Related

inclinetendtrendpatternhabit

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