A pattern is a repeated design or sequence of shapes, colours, or events; a model or template to copy; or a regular, predictable way in which something happens. As a verb, to pattern something means to model it on a particular example.
What Does Pattern Mean?
Pattern entered English in the 14th century from Old French patron, meaning a model or patron, itself from Medieval Latin patronus. Historically, patron and pattern were the same word — both referred to a model to be copied. Over time the spellings diverged: patron kept its social sense (a supporter or protector), while pattern took on the concrete meaning of a repeated design or template. The modern sense of a recurring sequence — as in behaviour patterns or grammar patterns — developed in the 19th and 20th centuries.
In everyday English, pattern covers three broad areas. As a visual noun, it describes a repeated decorative design: the pattern on a wallpaper, a geometric pattern on tiles. As an abstract noun, it describes a regular sequence of events, actions, or data that can be observed and predicted: sleep patterns, traffic patterns, grammatical patterns. As a practical noun, it refers to a template used in craft or dressmaking: a sewing pattern.
The verb use is less frequent but important in academic and formal writing. To pattern something on or after something means to design or organise it by following an existing model: The programme was patterned on a successful Canadian initiative.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| The dress has a red and white pattern on it. | A2 — pattern as visual design |
| She studied grammar patterns to help her write more natural-sounding sentences. | B1 — pattern as recurring structure in language |
| Scientists noticed an unusual pattern in the patients' sleeping habits. | B1 — pattern as observable sequence of behaviour |
| The city's transport system was patterned on the London Underground model. | B2 — pattern as verb, formal register |
| A recurring pattern of avoidance behaviour often underlies anxiety disorders. | C1 — pattern in academic/psychological writing |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| behaviour pattern | Therapists help clients identify unhealthy behaviour patterns. |
| speech pattern | Detectives can sometimes identify a criminal through their speech patterns. |
| sleep pattern | Shift work can disrupt normal sleep patterns significantly. |
| weather pattern | Climate change is altering established weather patterns across the globe. |
| grammar pattern | Learning grammar patterns helps you produce more accurate sentences. |
| recurring pattern | The report highlighted a recurring pattern of late payments. |
| sewing pattern | She followed a sewing pattern to make the costume from scratch. |
| design pattern | The architect used a symmetrical design pattern for the facade. |
| follow a pattern | His career path seemed to follow a familiar pattern. |
| break a pattern | It takes conscious effort to break a pattern of negative thinking. |
Usage Notes
- Noun or verb? Pattern is overwhelmingly used as a noun. The verb form (to pattern something on/after something) is mainly found in formal, academic, or journalistic writing. In everyday speech, say modelled on or based on instead.
- Countable noun: Pattern is countable — you can say a pattern, patterns, several patterns. It does not have an uncountable use.
- Prepositions: When pattern is a verb, use pattern on or pattern after (British English prefers on). When describing a visual pattern, use a pattern of + noun: a pattern of dots, a pattern of behaviour.
- Adjectives that collocate well: recurring, repeated, regular, familiar, complex, geometric, floral, consistent, established, distinct.
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
The new school was patterned by the Finnish education system.
The new school was patterned on the Finnish education system. (verb pattern takes the preposition on or after, not by)
I can see a pattern of how he always arrives late.
I can see a pattern in how he always arrives late. (use pattern in or pattern of + noun phrase, not pattern of how)
She has a pattern to avoid difficult conversations.
She has a pattern of avoiding difficult conversations. (pattern + of + gerund, not pattern + to-infinitive)