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
Powell was in extension talks with the Clippers last summer before he was suddenly dealt to the Heat as part of a three-team trade that brought John Collins to Los Angeles. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2026 Rather, platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi allow traders to buy and sell contracts among themselves, with the companies collecting a small fee on each trade. —Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Hunter Tyson was gone, traded to Brooklyn and waived by the Nets while the Nuggets were hanging out in New York for the trade deadline on Thursday. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026 This finding is not surprising and fits well with a long economic literature showing that countries are more likely to trade with nearby countries and that the volume of trade between two countries is a significant predictor of how synchronized their business cycles are. —Josh Ederington, Fortune, 8 Feb. 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
  • Porziņģis, who was acquired just before Thursday’s deadline from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, has played in just 59 games over the last two seasons because of various health issues.
    — Nick Friedell, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026
  • First, the goal of leading an economically secure life in exchange for hard work has become more elusive.
    — Mark Robert Rank, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of exchange
Noun
  • There’s no shortage of stylish craft here and much to enjoy in the performances, but ultimately, Rosebush Pruning is too glib to work, leaving only an acrid aftertaste.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Feb. 2026
  • According to the American Craft Spirits Association, American craft distilleries rose from 150 to 200 in 2010 to over 3,000 by 2023, and while that number has begun to level off over the past year, the craft whiskey industry retains its strong presence.
    — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of craft
Noun
  • The median annual income expected for STEM professions over the next ten years is more than $100,000.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Diane Lane as Lorena Wood is another tried-and-true western figure, a femme de joie looking to put her profession behind her.
    — Miles Beller, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of profession
Noun
  • Crime 101 takes the same view of quid pro quo as the most basic form of American commerce and makes simple but brutal points about value and self-worth, where your car, its year, make and model, matters more than your resumé.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
  • And urgency, not budget or headcount, is the real growth constraint in modern commerce.
    — Erik Huberman, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of commerce
Noun
  • Mexico has amended its constitution to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and vapes.
    — Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The skyscraper known as the Graffiti Towers — officially the Oceanwide Plaza development — has reached a bankruptcy exit agreement that paves the way for a potential sale, court records show.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of sale
Verb
  • And there was smoke to that fire, with ESPN reporting that if Giannis is not dealt, he might be held out the balance of the season to enhance the Bucks’ lottery position.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The Golden State Warriors found their dependable big man by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis from Atlanta and granted forward Jonathan Kuminga his wish to be traded while also dealing guard Buddy Hield to the Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of deal
Verb
  • But allegations of vote-swapping and selling of votes by French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne led to an investigation by the ISU and the International Olympic Committee, and she was ultimately found guilty of misconduct and suspended.
    — Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The shoe is rendered entirely in black, swapping its Kevlar weave for suede.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of swap
Noun
  • More than 1,800 pieces of art were entered in the contest and 193 pieces representing 44 schools in the tri-state area were picked as winners.
    — From staff reports, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The ability to make something out of nothing may seem uniquely human — a bedrock of creativity that’s led to new kinds of art, music and more.
    — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 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 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trade

Nglish: Translation of trade for Spanish Speakers

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