change

verb \ ˈchānj \

Updated on: 10 Apr 2018

Definition of change

changed; changing

transitive verb

1 a : to make different in some particular : alter

never bothered to change the will

b : to make radically different : transform

can't change human nature

c : to give a different position, course, or direction to

changed his residence from Ohio to California

2 a : to replace with another

let's change the subject

b : to make a shift from one to another : switch

always changes sides in an argument

c : to exchange for an equivalent sum of money (as in smaller denominations or in a foreign currency)

change a 20-dollar bill

d : to undergo a modification of

foliage changing color

e : to put fresh clothes or covering on

change a bed

intransitive verb

1 : to become different

her mood changes every hour

2 : to undergo transformation, transition, or substitution

winter changed to spring

3 : exchange, switch

neither liked his seat so they changed with each other

4 : to put on different clothes

need a few minutes to change for dinner

5 : to shift one's means of conveyance : transfer

on the bus trip he had to change twice

6 of the voice : to shift to lower register : break

His voice started to change when he turned 13.

7 of the moon : to pass from one phase (see ¹phase 1) to another

—

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

Her son is a successful businessman, part of the new Russia that has changed dramatically in two generations.

— fred weir, The Christian Science Monitor, "One family’s divergent views of the Bolshevik revolution tell a tale of Russia’s complicated past – and present," 5 Nov. 2017
The bill is likely to be changed by Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady even before the committee begins its consideration of it on Monday.

— anna edgerton, Bloomberg.com, "GOP's United Front on Tax Cut Plans Masks Underlying Divisions," 3 Nov. 2017
NBC News The Woke Leader The Silicon Valley reboot of the school system is…pivoting AltSchool, a startup launched by former Google engineer Max Ventilla five years ago, is changing direction, as losses pile up for the for-profit company.

— ellen mcgirt, Fortune, "raceAhead: Uber and Lyft Ban a Far-Right Troll, How Online Abuse Encouraged Russia, Black Lives Matter Wins a Prize," 3 Nov. 2017
As the sun hits the changing leaves of your favorite neighborhood tree, many of us delight in the golden and burnt orange shades the leaves take on in their autumnal glory.

— Southern Living, "These New Viewfinders Allow the Colorblind to See the Smoky Mountains' Fall Beauty for the First Time," 3 Nov. 2017
School officials say the spending plan can be changed.

— lee roop, AL.com, "Madison County school board votes 'no' on new Monrovia high school," 3 Nov. 2017
The ball joint at the top (007) allows the wheel camber to be changed with just a few bolts.

— k.c. colwell, Car and Driver, "Prime Cuts: We Cut Open a Multimatic Spool-Valve Damper to Reveal Its Secrets," 3 Nov. 2017
State legislators, who sat through nearly five hours of testimony over two days from 38 scholars, good government advocates and private citizens, agreed Ohio needs to change how congressional district lines are determined.

— rich exner, cleveland.com, "Find Cuyahoga County home sales, other property transfers for October," 2 Nov. 2017
But now, fans have changed their minds after Khloé posted photos from Halloween.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "Khloé Kardashian's Halloween 2017 Costume Photo Has Fans Questioning Pregnancy Rumors," 2 Nov. 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! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

change Synonyms

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 as

a : alteration

a change in the weather

b : transformation

a time of vast social change

going through changes

c : substitution

a change of scenery

d : 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 another

e : menopause

2 a : money in small denominations received in exchange for an equivalent sum in larger denominations

b : money returned when a payment exceeds the amount due

a cashier quick at making change

c : coins especially of low denominations

a pocketful of change

d : a negligible additional amount

only six minutes and change left in the game

e : money 1

cost a large chunk of change

3 : a fresh set of clothes

4 British : exchange 5a

5 : changeup

6 : an order in which a set of bells is struck in change ringing

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

That's because climate change will increase temperatures and flooding in the state.

— emily hopkins, Indianapolis Star, "This is why Hoosiers may soon have to worry about diseases such as malaria and Zika," 6 Apr. 2018
As sea ice decreases dramatically across polar oceans, some scientists see a silver lining: The algal blooms that seem to thrive where ice has recently disappeared could damper climate change by trapping carbon in the deep ocean.

— randall hyman, Science | AAAS, "Polar sea ice leads to more productive oceans," 6 Apr. 2018
But water shortages from climate change and large-scale commercial agriculture sparked protests last year that may be a sign of things to come as water becomes more scarce — in Morocco and elsewhere.

— sophie nunnally, USA TODAY, "In Morocco, residents never know when water will flow so they leave the taps on," 5 Apr. 2018
The decision represents one of the Trump Administration’s most aggressively regressive moves yet on climate change.

— justin worland, Time, "Scott Pruitt's Rollback of Emissions Standards Is a Big Deal. Here's Why the Rollout Fell Flat," 5 Apr. 2018
The newest revelations show that Shell had extensive research into climate change for about the same amount of time.

— scott waldman, Scientific American, "Shell Grappled With Climate Change 20 Years Ago, Documents Show," 5 Apr. 2018
But three years later, activists question why the committee can’t broaden its scope to talk about the bigger picture — climate change.

— alex harris, miamiherald, "Should Miami’s sea level rise committee address climate change, too? | Miami Herald," 5 Apr. 2018
Steve Forbes: Lefty mayors' frivolous climate change lawsuits need to stop.

— Fox News, "FOX NEWS FIRST: Facebook's privacy scandal larger than originally thought; Trump orders National Guard to border," 5 Apr. 2018
Like other coral reefs around the world, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is facing big threats from climate change — such as warmer and more acidic seawater and increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

— amanda campanaro /, NBC News, "Can this ultra-thin 'sunscreen' save the world's largest coral reef?," 5 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of change

see ¹change

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

change Synonyms

Synonyms

alteration, difference, modification, redoing, refashioning, remaking, remodeling, revamping, review, revise, revision, reworking, variation;

Antonyms

fixation, stabilization;

conversion, deformation, distortion, metamorphosis, mutation, transfiguration, transformation;

fluctuation, oscillation, shift;

displacement, replacement, substitution;

adjustment, modulation, regulation, tweak;

redesign, redo;

CHANGE Defined for English Language Learners

change

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

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.

Synonym Discussion of change

change, alter, and vary mean to make or become different. change may be used for making such a difference in a thing that it becomes something else.

- They've changed the house into a restaurant.

Change may also be used for substituting one thing for another.

- We changed our seats for better ones.

alter is used for making a small difference in something.

- He altered the picture by adding color.

vary is used for making a difference in order to break away from a routine.

- The boss varied our tasks.

change

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.

Learn More about change

See words that rhyme with change Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for change Spanish Central: Translation of change Nglish: Translation of change for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of change for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about change

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change

Definition of change

changer

Examples of change in a Sentence

Recent Examples of change from the Web

Origin and Etymology of change

change Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of change

change

Definition of change

Examples of change in a Sentence

Recent Examples of change from the Web

Origin and Etymology of change

change Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

CHANGE Defined for English Language Learners

change

Definition of change for English Language Learners

CHANGE Defined for Kids

change

Definition of change for Students

Synonym Discussion of change

change

Definition of change for Students

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