change

play

verb \ˈchānj\

Definition of change

changed

;

changing

transitive verb
1a : to make different in some particular : alter never bothered to change the willb : to make radically different : transform can't change human naturec : to give a different position, course, or direction to changed his residence from Ohio to California
2a : to replace with another let's change the subjectb : to make a shift from one to another : switch always changes sides in an argumentc : to exchange for an equivalent sum of money (as in smaller denominations or in a foreign currency) change a 20-dollar billd : to undergo a modification of foliage changing colore : to put fresh clothes or covering on change a bed
intransitive verb
1 : to become different her mood changes every hour
2 of the moon : to pass from one phase (see ¹phase 1) to another
3 : to shift one's means of conveyance : transfer on the bus trip he had to change twice
4 of the voice : to shift to lower register : break His voice started to change when he turned 13.
5 : to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution winter changed to spring
6 : to put on different clothes need a few minutes to change for dinner
7 : exchange, switch neither liked his seat so they changed with each other

changer

noun

change hands

: to pass from the possession of one owner to that of another money changes hands many times

See change defined for English-language learners

See change defined for kids

Examples of change in a Sentence

Her mood changes every hour.
He changed from an optimist to a pessimist.
The town has changed little in recent years.
These events have changed me in my attitude to life.
You can't change human nature.
Life changed him from an optimist into a pessimist.
The leaves change color from green to red in the fall.
She changed her name when she got married.
France has changed its monetary unit from the franc to the euro.
change the channel on the TV

Recent Examples of change from the Web

The Mariners did something that few teams have done all season: Attack Vargas’ change-up, one of the best pitches in baseball in 2017.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "Salvador Perez's late homer lifts Royals to 9-6 victory over the Mariners", 6 July 2017
Doty continues to fight for their own birth certificate to be changed also — as of now, B.C. is not one of the Canadian provinces considering including a non-binary gender option on birth certificates.

— tess koman, Cosmopolitan, "This Baby Does Not Have a Gender Designated on Their Birth Certificate", 5 July 2017
Democrats have dug in over any change to the current program, solemnly declaring that changing so much as a comma or semicolon in the ACA’s expansion of the program would immediately sentence millions of children to death.

— michael tanner, National Review, "The Uninspiring Medicaid Debate", 5 July 2017
Specifically, both the House and the Senate plan would change or eliminate more than a dozen taxes that were levied to help pay for the Affordable Care Act’s insurance subsidies and to bolster Medicare and expand Medicaid.

— julie appleby, Kaiser Health News, "What Tax Breaks? Those Promised In GOP Plans Go Mostly To Top 1%", 5 July 2017
But to the extent that sheer force can solve a problem like ISIS, the Obama administration’s approach was working just fine: Trump’s changes to the campaign [against ISIS] so far have been tactical—

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Rejected Military’s ISIS Strategy Because It Was Too Similar to Obama’s", 5 July 2017
Grant wanted to change Magnises into something that would scale [into something bigger].

— bryan burrough, The Hive, "Fyre Festival: Anatomy of a Millennial Marketing Fiasco Waiting to Happen", 4 July 2017
As a young boy, John Lewis dreamed of being a preacher and using his speeches to change people.

— South Florida Parenting, "Summer reading: Books to keep kids learning", 3 July 2017
Changing risks The U.S. is a large country, with many regions that differ with respect to their risk of suffering a natural disaster.

— Scientific American, "Natural Disasters by Location: Rich Leave and Poor Get Poorer", 2 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'change'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of change

Middle English, from Anglo-French changer, from Latin cambiare to exchange, probably of Celt origin; akin to Old Irish camm crooked

NEW!

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of change

change, alter, vary, modify mean to make or become different. change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another. changed the shirt for a larger size alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity. slightly altered the original design vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition. vary your daily routine modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose. modified the building for use by the disabled

change

noun

Definition of change

1 : the act, process, or result of changing: such asa : alteration a change in the weatherb : transformation a time of vast social change going through changesc : substitution a change of sceneryd : the passage of the moon from one monthly revolution (see revolution 1a) to another; also : the passage of the moon from one phase (see ¹phase 1) to anothere : menopause
2 : a fresh set of clothes
3 British : exchange 5a
4a : money in small denominations received in exchange for an equivalent sum in larger denominationsb : money returned when a payment exceeds the amount due a cashier quick at making changec : coins especially of low denominations a pocketful of changed : a negligible additional amount only six minutes and change left in the gamee : money 1 cost a large chunk of change
5 : an order in which a set of bells is struck in change ringing
6 : changeup

See change defined for English-language learners

Examples of change in a Sentence

There has been little if any change in her daily routine.
You shouldn't be afraid of change. Change is a natural part of life.
The years have brought many changes to the town's economy.
We need to make some changes in the system.
Many voters believe that it's time for a change.
We've had to make a slight change in the schedule.
a change for the worse
We've been so busy that a quiet day at home was a welcome change.
We eat at home a lot, so dining out sometimes is a nice change.
Have you got change for a $10 bill?

Recent Examples of change from the Web

Amir Peretz and Avi Gabbay represent a change and that starts in the periphery and development towns.

— aron heller, Jewish Journal, "Israel's Labor Party looks to rebrand with leadership vote", 5 July 2017
The policy uncertainty will probably only end with change at the top.

— The Economist, "South African mining is in crisis", 4 July 2017
This is an Amazon price-tracking site with historical charts and a brief summary of recent price changes.

— ian paul, PCWorld, "Amazon Prime Day 2017: Everything you need to know about Amazon's shopping extravaganza", 29 June 2017
Vanity Fair: Since you were detained, did your perspective on China change?

— a.m. homes, Vanities, "Ai Weiwei Believes Americans Still Have to Fight for Democracy", 28 June 2017

Origin and Etymology of change

see ¹change

NEW!

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

CHANGE Defined for English Language Learners

change

play

verb

Definition of change for English Language Learners

: to become different
: to make (someone or something) different
: to become something else

CHANGE Defined for Kids

change

play

verb \ˈchānj\

Definition of change for Students

changed

;

changing

1 : to make or become different changing autumn leaves I like how you've changed this room.
2 : to give a different position, course, or direction to I changed my plans.
3 : to put one thing in the place of another : switch Our teacher made us change places.
4 : to give or receive an equal amount of money in usually smaller units of value or in the money of another country Can you change a ten-dollar bill?
5 : to put fresh clothes or covering on change a bed
6 : to put on different clothes We always change for dinner.

change hands

: to pass from one person's possession or ownership to another's The restaurant has changed hands.

change

play

noun

Definition of change for Students

1 : the act, process, or result of making or becoming different There's been a change in plans. a change of seasons
2 : something that is different from what is usual or expected The trip was a welcome change from our routine.
3 : a fresh set of clothes Pack several changes for your vacation.
4 : money in small units of value received in exchange for an equal amount in larger units Do you have change for a ten-dollar bill?
5 : money returned when a payment is more than the amount due Don't forget your change.
6 : money in coins I have two dollars in change.