10 Expressions for Describing Trends & Graphs
Level up your academic and professional English. Each card gives you a clear definition, a natural example sentence, and a tiny SVG chart that visually matches the trend.
UPGeneral movement
an upward trend
A general increase over time, not necessarily smooth.
UPStrong increase
to soar
To rise very quickly and by a large amount.
DOWNStrong decrease
to plummet
To fall suddenly and steeply.
FLATLittle/no change
to remain stable
To stay roughly the same over a period.
VARUp-and-down
to fluctuate
To change frequently, moving up and down.
TOPHighest point
to peak
To reach the highest level before decreasing or leveling off.
LOWLowest point
to bottom out
To reach the lowest level before recovering.
UPSmall change
a slight increase
A small rise; often within a narrow range.
DOWNSudden change
a sharp decline
A sudden and noticeable fall.
FLATStabilize
to level off
To stop rising or falling and become steady.
Collocations (go-to partners):
trend + upward/downward; prices/sales/figures + soar/plummet; numbers/rates + remain stable/level off; interest/inflation + peak/bottom out.
trend + upward/downward; prices/sales/figures + soar/plummet; numbers/rates + remain stable/level off; interest/inflation + peak/bottom out.
Precision: Prefer
slight/moderate/sharp to vague words like big or huge.Academic tone: Use the present perfect for recent trends with present relevance: “Sales have increased since 2022.”
Mini task (fill‑in):
- After months of volatility, the exchange rate finally _________.
- Following the new policy, carbon emissions __________ in Q3.
- Between 2018 and 2020, there was __________ in smartphone adoption.
Show sample answers
1) leveled off 2) declined sharply / plummeted 3) an upward trend / a sharp increase
Speaking frame: “From YEAR to YEAR, METRIC rose/fell/remained stable, peaking/bottoming out at VALUE before it leveled off.”
Style tip: Combine a verb + adverb for nuance: rose slightly, fell dramatically, fluctuated wildly.
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