trade 1 of 2

noun

ˈtrād How to pronounce trade (audio)
Definition of tradenext
1
as in exchange
a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another when the other team unexpectedly offered to hand over its top pitcher for our star shortstop, our coach agreed to the trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in craft
an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands a youth eager to learn the trade of cabinetmaking

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living writing is my trade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commerce
the buying and selling of goods especially on a large scale and between different places a bill regulating trade with that country

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in sale
the transfer of ownership of something from one person to another for a price the trade of all of her holdings in the company just before the stock plunged in value immediately aroused suspicions

Synonyms & Similar Words

trade

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to deal
to carry on the business of buying and selling goods or other property the U.S. agreed to trade with China

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return I'll trade my chocolate chip cookie for your bag of chips

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word trade distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of trade are business, commerce, industry, and traffic. While all these words mean "activity concerned with the supplying and distribution of commodities," commerce and trade imply the exchange and transportation of commodities.

In what contexts can business take the place of trade?

The words business and trade can be used in similar contexts, but business may be an inclusive term but specifically designates the activities of those engaged in the purchase or sale of commodities or in related financial transactions.

When could industry be used to replace trade?

The words industry and trade are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, industry applies to the producing of commodities, especially by manufacturing or processing, usually on a large scale.

When can traffic be used instead of trade?

While in some cases nearly identical to trade, traffic applies to the operation and functioning of public carriers of goods and persons.

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of trade
Noun
Some China watchers, however, are keeping their expectations low, as both sides appear to be more interested in avoiding moves that would risk their current trade truce. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Minnesota needed edge rusher depth in the aftermath of the Jonathan Greenard trade to the Philadelphia Eagles this spring. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
Under the leadership of president/baseball operations Peter Bendix, the Marlins have mastered the scrap heap pickup; Otto Lopez, Xavier Edwards, Liam Hicks (traded to Tampa Bay) and Heriberto Hernandez continue to wildly exceed expectations. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 Its effort settings also let customers trade performance for speed and cost. — Wen Shao, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trade
  1. exchange
  2. craft
  3. profession
  4. commerce
  5. sale
  6. deal
  7. swap
  8. art
Noun
  • Meanwhile, a federal judge on Wednesday rejected the Justice Department's push to force Google to sell its ad exchange, another victory for the company against the government's antitrust efforts.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Additionally, the hoard contained both Arab and Anglo-Saxon coins, indicating the Vikings’ involvement in broader economic exchange between Europe and Southwest Asia during this period.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of exchange
Noun
  • Rough surf and locally hazardous conditions for small craft are also anticipated over the northern Gulf.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • With digital manufacturing, engineers simply tweak the CAD file and hit print, churning out replacement parts, patrol craft, logistics vessels, or uncrewed sensor platforms on demand.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of craft
Noun
  • Hogan, who spends the off-season as a graduate student in fiction writing at the University of Houston, seemed to view smokejumping not only as a profession but as a world view.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Looking at passing citizens reveals flavor text about their professions and backgrounds.
    — Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of profession
Noun
  • This is where NuOrder, the B2B commerce platform, came into the picture.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Brad Bourque is a tech journalist and commerce writer based out of Portland, Oregon.
    — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of commerce
Noun
  • Where companies such as Zero and Stark have pushed hard to gain high output numbers in order to win sales, Bonnell hopes to win them by building e-bikes that appeal to riders and enthusiasts at a more visceral level.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The timing of the sale was a shock to much of the organization, though the decision to move on was less surprising.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sale
Verb
  • If Cease and the rotation keep dealing and Louis Varland and the bullpen can survive one more month, any offensive revival would make the Jays a real threat.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Detectives suspected that members of a Black gang, the Original Valley Gangster Crips, killed him in an attempt to wrest control of the drug dealing hub.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of deal
Verb
  • Bonnell says the battery can be swapped in roughly 30 seconds.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
  • If your logo were swapped onto a competitor's website, would anyone notice?
    — Cynthia Ferngren, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of swap
Noun
  • Following Abloh’s death in November 2021, Kamara was appointed as art and image director and presented his first show, Spring/Summer 2023, in Paris that year.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Their generosity, humanity and belief in the importance of fashion as art, culture and history, as well as their understanding of human fragility and the possibility of growth, will remain with me always.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of art

Phrases Containing trade

Browse Nearby Words

tracts
trade
trade book
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Cite this Entry

“Trade.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trade. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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