1. regularly or frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic: "written language tends to be formal"Similarbe inclinedbe aptbe disposedbe pronebe liablehave/show a tendencybe likelyhave a propensity
▪ be liable to possess or display (a particular characteristic): "Walter tended towards corpulence"Similarinclineleanswingveergravitatebe drawnmovefavourshow a preference forbe biasedtrend
▪ go or move in a particular direction: "fire is hot and tends upwards"
▪ (of a variable) approach a given quantity as a limit:"the orbit tends to infinity"
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘move or be inclined to move in a certain direction’): from Old French tendre ‘stretch, tend’, from Latin tendere.
