German word

tendieren

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛnˈdiːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbtend to

Example

Viele Menschen tendieren dazu, das Positive zu übersehen.

Many people tend to overlook the positive.

Illustration for tendieren (tend to)

More examples

Bei Kurzumfragen tendieren die Antworten oft zur Mitte.

In short surveys, the answers often tend toward the middle.

Core concept

A person, idea, or trend keeps leaning toward a particular direction as it develops.

Common phrases

  • tendieren in Richtung

    tend in the direction of ___

  • tendieren zum Extrem

    tend toward the extreme

Similar words

neigen: To be naturally inclined to feel or act in a particular way.
bevorzugen: To favor one option over others when making a choice.

Definition in German

eine Neigung zeigen, in Gedanken, Verhalten oder Entwicklungen eine bestimmte Richtung zu verfolgen.

Word origin

Tendieren is formed from the learned borrowing of Latin tendere, whose meanings include 'to stretch' and 'to direct', and it developed the sense of showing an inclination.

Usage tips

  • The construction tendieren zu takes a noun, while an action normally appears as dazu tendieren, etwas zu tun.

Other meanings

  • leanverb

Related words

  • tendenziösbiasedadjective
  • Tendenztendencynoun

Word lists with this word