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
The agreement also extended to intellectual property in the countries and digital trade. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026 The Philadelphia 76ers made a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics Wednesday and acquired Jaylen Brown in exchange for Paul George and four draft picks, league sources said. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Verb
There’s the Basque population in Boise, Idaho, whose ancestors traded a mountainous region between France and Spain for the American West in the hopes of finding gold but later turned to sheep herding. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026 The New York Times reported in February that Freedom 250 was allegedly trading access to Trump for donations, causing concern among congressional Democrats. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 3 July 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
  • In January 2015, Shirley agreed to a plea deal in exchange for testifying against the Leonard brothers.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • The resulting arguments, trolling and nasty exchanges can signal to the algorithm that the content is engaging, prompting it to show those posts to even more people who are likely to react and further amplify the conversation.
    — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Definition of exchange
Noun
  • Explore unique crafts, goods and gifts from over 15 local vendors.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • American sparkling wine has come a long way in a very short period of time with winemakers crafting award-winning world class expressions that rival those with centuries of winemaking craft.
    — Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of craft
Noun
  • Lila Scott, a TV writer, is among those seeking to join the profession.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The researchers found that, within the medical profession, doctors tend to earn more in specialties that require more training and longer hours.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of profession
Noun
  • And so the Mississippi River has been this flow of commerce both up and down the river for a long time, but I was really saddened to hear how much of that commerce was people.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Amazon is also setting up 100 urban fulfilment centers that will stock apparel, electronics, jewelry, shoes, luggage, watches, wireless accessories, musical instruments and furniture for quick commerce orders.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of commerce
Noun
  • The court declined, however, to review a challenge to a federal ban on handgun sales to 18- to 20-year-olds, as well as to a similar Florida state law.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Jessica Gonzalez hustles behind her booth at the recent Renegade Craft Fair, frantically ringing up sales, answering questions and packaging her beeswax candles.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of sale
Verb
  • Brown's future in Boston came into question when the Celtics reportedly attempted to deal him to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
    — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • Standout deals for summer include 30% off the Fleur Leather Slide and 25% off the beloved and ultra-versatile Moab hiking shoes (in select colors).
    — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of deal
Verb
  • The loadout on sale here differs from our review model in a few ways, notably swapping an AMD Ryzen 5 processor in for the poky 12th-generation Intel Core i3 and doubling the RAM.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Each worker is small enough to reason about on its own, easy to evaluate in isolation and easy to swap when a better model comes along.
    — Saran Siva, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of swap
Noun
  • Loyalty may be a lost art in some workplaces, but that doesn’t mean it’s lost its value.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • At one point, Weist describes uncovering that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani maintained a fine-art photography practice while simultaneously waging a highly public censorship battle against the Brooklyn Museum.
    — Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on trade

Nglish: Translation of trade for Spanish Speakers

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