change

verb \ ˈchānj \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: change in a Sentence

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

some things never change

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

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.
Their relationship seems to have changed for the better.
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

Satellites track typhoons, monitor volcanic-ash plumes and catalogue the changing ways in which human beings use the land.

— The Economist, "Submarine cables could be repurposed as earthquake detectors," 16 June 2018
Stick around long enough and styles of music will change.

— andrew dansby, Houston Chronicle, "Lacy J. Dalton still making good music after all these years," 14 June 2018
But experts also point to society’s changing views about how dead bodies should be disposed of.

— emily atkin, The New Republic, "The Fight for the Right to Be Cremated by Water," 14 June 2018
It is brightly lit and areas such as the car oil changing station have been repurposed for activities like watching movies.

— abigail abrams, Fortune, "A Former Walmart Is Now Housing Migrant Children. Here’s What It’s Like Inside," 14 June 2018
But changed immigration policy will depend on political agreement in Washington.

— erik sherman /, NBC News, "With more open jobs than available workers, who will fill the positions?," 14 June 2018
That’s little changed from 2014, when the workforce was 61 percent white, 30 percent Asian, 2 percent black, 3 percent Latinx and 4 percent multiracial.

— nitasha tiku, WIRED, "Google’s Employee Diversity Numbers Haven’t Really Improved," 14 June 2018
Lively begins by exploring the garden’s place in art and literature (perhaps veering a tad too close now and then toward a book report) and then explores the changing fashions of gardening and what gardens may show about class distinctions.

— stephanie hanes, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Life in the Garden' lovingly recalls the place of gardens in an author's life," 14 June 2018
To conduct the work, researchers analyzed 76 studies that looked at how 62 species of mammals on six continents—from opossums to elephants—changed their behavior in response to human activities such as hunting, farming, and development.

— elizabeth gamillo, Science | AAAS, "Human activity is causing more and more animals to embrace the night," 14 June 2018

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

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

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