Sentence:  The executive paid tribute to research and development and technology for their great contributions in the past , but he also cautioned industry that they <WSD>tend</WSD> to be great equalizers because they move at a fairly even pace within an industry and fail to give it the short-term advantage which it often needs . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined