The way things go? (5)
I believe the answer is:
trend
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'the way' is the first definition.
(trend is a kind of way)
'go?' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
'things' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for trend that I've seen before include "turn" , "General direction in which something is developing" , "General line of orientation" , "Mode" , "Fashion; general direction" .)