modify

mod·i·fy

verb \ˈmä-də-ˌfī\

mod·i·fiedmod·i·fy·ing

Definition of MODIFY

transitive verb

1

: to make less extreme : moderate

2

a : to limit or restrict the meaning of especially in a grammatical construction b : to change (a vowel) by umlaut

3

a : to make minor changes in b : to make basic or fundamental changes in often to give a new orientation to or to serve a new end <the wing of a bird is an arm modified for flying>

intransitive verb

: to undergo change

— mod·i·fi·abil·i·ty \ˌmä-də-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— mod·i·fi·able \ˈmä-də-ˌfī-ə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of MODIFY

1. We can help you modify an existing home or build a new one.
2. He modified the recipe by using oil instead of butter.
3. She has modified her views on the matter.
4. The design was modified to add another window.
5. We played a modified version of our favorite game.
6. Adjectives usually modify nouns, and adverbs usually modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
7. In the phrase “a red hat,” the adjective “red” modifies the noun “hat.”

Origin of MODIFY

Middle English modifien, from Anglo-French modifier, from Latin modificare to measure, moderate, from modus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MODIFY

Synonyms: qualify

Antonyms: fix, freeze, set, stabilize

Related Words: alter, color, distort, misrepresent, misstate, pervert, twist, warp; narrow

Near Antonyms: broaden, expand, widen

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See Synonym Discussion at change

Rhymes with MODIFY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify