What does "vary" mean?
alteration; change.
Vary
/ˈvɛəɹi/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: alteration; change.
- Grammar: vary is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: change, alter, a changé, accommodate.
- Useful contrasts: corresponding, generic pattern, microbial measure.
- Usage evidence: Wages vary in relation to the age of the worker.
How to use "vary"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "vary" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "vary" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "vary" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "vary" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "vary" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "change" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "vary", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 alteration; change. obsolete, uncountable
"With euery gall, and varry of their Masters,"
Verb
- 1 To change with time or a similar parameter. transitive
"He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice."
- 2 become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence wordnet
- 3 To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify. transitive
"You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end."
- 4 make something more diverse and varied wordnet
- 5 Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter. intransitive
"His mood varies by the hour."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 be at variance with; be out of line with wordnet
- 7 To display differences. intransitive
"The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing."
- 8 be subject to change in accordance with a variable wordnet
- 9 To be or act different from the usual. intransitive
"I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5."
- 10 To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate. transitive
"God hath[…] varied their inclinations."
- 11 To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation. transitive
- 12 To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension. intransitive, obsolete
"the rich jewel which we vary for"
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Wages vary in relation to the age of the worker."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "vary"?
Common synonyms include: change, alter, a changé, accommodate, adapt, adjust.
How do you use "vary" in a sentence?
Wages vary in relation to the age of the worker.
How do you pronounce "vary"?
Pronounced /ˈvɛəɹi/.
Etymology
From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.