trade
trayd
Trade (verb) means to buy and sell goods, services, or securities. Example: “The two countries agreed to trade freely without tariffs.”
verb
1
To buy and sell goods, services, or securities.
"The two countries agreed to trade freely without tariffs."
"She trades stocks online from her laptop."
"The company trades in second-hand furniture across the whole region."
2
To give something and receive something else in return.
"The kids traded snacks at lunch."
"I'll trade you my sandwich for your apple."
"He traded his old bike for a guitar."
noun
1
The buying and selling of goods and services.
"Trade between the two nations has grown steadily."
"The port town grew rich on trade with distant countries."
"Online trade has changed how small shops reach their customers."
2
A skilled occupation or craft, usually one that requires manual skill and training.
"He learned the plumbing trade from his father."
"She trained in a skilled trade and now works as an electrician."
"Carpentry is a trade that takes years of practice to master."
How to use trade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBuying, selling, or exchanging goods — or a skilled manual occupation.
Common pairings
free trade
trade with
trade for
learn a trade
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- trades
- Past tense
- traded
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The two countries agreed to _____ freely without tariffs.
Etymology
From Middle Low German trade, meaning "track" or "course," brought into English by Hanseatic merchants — the sense shifted from a merchant's regular route to commerce itself.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for trade
See all rhymes for trade →Frequently asked questions
What does “trade” mean?
The word “trade” means to buy and sell goods, services, or securities. In plain terms, buying, selling, or exchanging goods — or a skilled manual occupation.
How do you pronounce “trade”?
“Trade” is pronounced trayd (/tɹeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “trade” in a sentence?
Here is “trade” used in a sentence: “The two countries agreed to trade freely without tariffs.”
What is another word for “trade”?
Words with a similar meaning to “trade” include exchange, merchandise, traffic, truck and wrixle.
What part of speech is “trade”?
Depending on how it is used, “trade” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “trade” come from?
The word “trade” comes from German. From Middle Low German trade, meaning "track" or "course," brought into English by Hanseatic merchants — the sense shifted from a merchant's regular route to commerce itself.
Is “trade” a common word?
“Trade” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “trade” have?
“Trade” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to buy and sell goods, services, or securities.
What is the difference between trading and investing?
Trading and investing both involve buying and selling, but they differ in time and intent. Traders buy and sell frequently — sometimes within a single day — aiming to profit from short-term price moves. Investors buy and hold for months or years, seeking gradual, long-term growth. Trading is more active and typically carries more risk.
What is the difference between trade and barter?
Both involve exchanging goods or services, but the key difference is money. In trade, people usually buy and sell using money as the medium of exchange. In barter, goods and services are swapped directly for one another with no money involved — for example, trading a bag of apples for a loaf of bread.
What are the types of trade?
Trade takes many forms. Domestic trade happens within one country, while international trade crosses borders through imports and exports. It can also be split into wholesale trade, selling in bulk to businesses, and retail trade, selling directly to consumers. In finance, trade refers to buying and selling shares and other securities.
What is an example of trade?
A simple example is a shop buying goods from a supplier and selling them on to customers at a profit. On a larger scale, one country might export cars and import oil. In financial markets, trade means buying and selling shares, currencies, or commodities, hoping to gain from changes in their price.
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