Adjacent Words

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence; "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season" [syn: change, alter, vary]
2: be at variance with; be out of line with [syn: deviate, vary, diverge, depart] [ant: conform]
3: be subject to change in accordance with a variable; "Prices vary"; "His moods vary depending on the weather"
4: make something more diverse and varied; "Vary the menu" [syn: vary, variegate, motley]

Merriam Webster's

verb (varied; varying) Etymology: Middle English varien, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French varier, from Latin variare, from varius various Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to make a partial change in ; make different in some attribute or characteristic b. to make differences between items in ; diversify 2. to present under new aspects <vary the rhythm and harmonic treatment> intransitive verb 1. to exhibit or undergo change <the sky was constantly varying> 2. deviate, depart 3. to take on successive values <y varies inversely with x> 4. to exhibit divergence in structural or physiological characters from the typical form Synonyms: see change • varyingly adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. (-ies, -ied) 1 tr. make different; modify, diversify (seldom varies the routine; the style is not sufficiently varied). 2 intr. a undergo change; become or be different (the temperature varies from 30° to 70°). b be of different kinds (his mood varies). 3 intr. (foll. by as) be in proportion to. Derivatives: varyingly adv. Etymology: ME f. OF varier or L variare (as VARIOUS)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Vary Va"ry, n. Alteration; change. [Obs.] --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Vary Va"ry, v. i. 1. To alter, or be altered, in any manner; to suffer a partial change; to become different; to be modified; as, colors vary in different lights. That each from other differs, first confess; Next, that he varies from himself no less. --Pope. 2. To differ, or be different; to be unlike or diverse; as, the laws of France vary from those of England. 3. To alter or change in succession; to alternate; as, one mathematical quantity varies inversely as another. While fear and anger, with alternate grace, Pant in her breast, and vary in her face. --Addison. 4. To deviate; to depart; to swerve; -- followed by from; as, to vary from the law, or from reason. -- Locke. 5. To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension; as, men vary in opinion. The rich jewel which we vary for. --Webster (1623).

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Vary Va"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Varied; p. pr. & vb. n. Varying.] [OE. varien, F. varier, L. variare, fr. varius various. See Various, and cf. Variate.] 1. To change the aspect of; to alter in form, appearance, substance, position, or the like; to make different by a partial change; to modify; as, to vary the properties, proportions, or nature of a thing; to vary a posture or an attitude; to vary one's dress or opinions. Shall we vary our device at will, Even as new occasion appears? --Spenser. 2. To change to something else; to transmute; to exchange; to alternate. Gods, that never change their state, Vary oft their love and hate. --Waller. We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies. --Dryden. 3. To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate. God hath varied their inclinations. --Sir T. Browne. God hath here Varied his bounty so with new delights. --Milton. 4. (Mus.) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See Variation, 4.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(varies, varying, varied) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. If things vary, they are different from each other in size, amount, or degree. As they're handmade, each one varies slightly... The text varies from the earlier versions... Different writers will prepare to varying degrees. = differ VERB: V, V from n, V-ing 2. If something varies or if you vary it, it becomes different or changed. The cost of the alcohol duty varies according to the amount of wine in the bottle... You are welcome to vary the diet. = change VERB: V, V n 3. see also varied

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Alter. 2. Transform, transmute, metamorphose, change, make some change in. 3. Exchange, alternate, change to something else. 4. Diversify, variegate, modify. II. v. n. 1. Alter, change, be changeable. 2. Differ, be unlike, be different. 3. Alter, alternate, change in succession. 4. Deviate, depart, swerve. 5. Disagree, be at variance, be in dissension. 6. Succeed, change successively.

Moby Thesaurus

accommodate, adapt, adjust, agree to disagree, alter, alternate, ameliorate, analyze, anatomize, atomize, back and fill, be at cross-purposes, be changed, be converted into, be distinct, be distinguished, be renewed, bear off, bend, better, bottom out, branch off, break, break off, break up, camouflage, change, change the bearing, checker, chop, chop and change, chop logic, clash, clash with, collide, come about, come around, come round, conflict, conflict with, contradict, contrast with, convert, counter, curve, deform, degenerate, denature, depart, depart from, desynonymize, deteriorate, detour, deviate, deviate from, differ, difference, differentiate, digress, disaccord, disaccord with, disagree, disagree with, discord, discriminate, disequalize, disguise, disjoin, dissent, dissimilate, distinguish, disunify, dither, divagate, divaricate, divaricate from, diverge, diverge from, diversify, divide, ebb and flow, equivocate, extend, fit, flop, flounder, fluctuate, go, go through phases, haul around, heel, improve, individualize, individuate, intermit, jangle, jar, jar with, jibe, jostle, lack regularity, make a distinction, mark, mark off, mark out, meliorate, mismatch, mismate, mitigate, modify, modulate, mutate, negate, not accord with, not square with, object, oscillate, overthrow, part, particularize, pendulate, personalize, qualify, re-create, realign, rebuild, reconstruct, redesign, refashion, refine a distinction, refit, reform, relieve, remake, remodel, renew, reorganize, reshape, restructure, revamp, revive, ring changes, ring the changes, run, seesaw, segregate, separate, set apart, set off, sever, severalize, sheer, shift, shift the scene, shilly-shally, shuffle, shuffle the cards, specialize, split hairs, stagger, stand apart, stand over against, subvert, sway, swerve, swing, switch, tack, take a turn, teeter, teeter-totter, tergiversate, totter, transform, trend, turn, turn aside, turn into, turn the corner, turn the scale, turn the tables, turn the tide, turn upside down, undergo a change, vacillate, variate, variegate, veer, warp, waver, wax and wane, wobble, work a change, worsen