change

play

verb \ ˈchānj \

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 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

But those figures are jaded a bit by changing sea levels that have caused weaker, more recent storms to push water over the wall.

— bob warren, NOLA.com, "SLU cancels classes Wednesday due to Harvey," 30 Aug. 2017
Evidence of mills’ changing preferences may be showing up at China’s ports, where holdings of iron ore surged to a record 141.5 million tons in June, before easing off in recent weeks.

— jasmine ng, Bloomberg.com, "How Iron Ore's Most Valuable Lessons Come From Grade School," 30 Aug. 2017
For the first time, this year's state budget required the formula be changed and provided an additional $350 million to help pay for it.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "After Rauner signs funding bill, Naperville-area schools may see state dollars," 29 Aug. 2017
Tolland Recycling Collection Changes TOLLAND — The Town of Tolland is switching to every other week recycling collection services.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 29 Aug. 2017
Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, responded by saying that the Pentagon would not change its policy until it was notified officially by the White House.

— tom vanden brook, The Courier-Journal, "Mattis freezes transgender policy; allows troops to continue serving, pending study," 29 Aug. 2017
Weapons changed hands a few times over the season, most notably when Littlefinger handed a Valyrian steel dagger over to Bran, who then gave it to Arya, and when Jon Snow tried to hand Longclaw back to Jorah.

— katey rich, HWD, "What Actually Happened on Game of Thrones This Season," 28 Aug. 2017
That changed this past Thursday evening when the agency staged a fundraiser dinner at Lakeside Golf Club.

— david laurell, Burbank Leader, "On the Town: Disney lends a hand to Burbank Temporary Aid Center for a new van," 28 Aug. 2017
This light, wire-free bra is made with a seamless stretchy fabric and front-adjustable straps that can be changed to crisscross your back.

— the good housekeeping institute, Good Housekeeping, "Warner's Easy Does It No Dig In Bra," 26 Aug. 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

Synonyms

alter, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary

Antonyms

fix, freeze, set, stabilize

Related Words

deform, metamorphose, mutate; regenerate, revolutionize, transfigure, transform, transmute; commute, convert, exchange; rejigger, retool

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 fresh set of clothes

3 British :exchange 5a

4 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

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

Seasonal and weekly ridership Seasonal changes in ridership have become apparent in the past year.

— cameron knight, Cincinnati.com, "Streetcar's second year: Ridership projections cut in half," 30 Aug. 2017
According to statistics supplied by Mumby, the planning and zoning staff’s recommended changes affect 400 acres, or 0.1 percent of the county’s more than 237,000 acres, excluding Aberdeen Proving Ground.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "Harford Comprehensive Zoning headed for County Council," 30 Aug. 2017
Officers held a roll-call, or shift change, outside a Milwaukee school.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
Climate change is not solely responsible for the storm.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "Why the Gulf Coast Is Uniquely Vulnerable to Disasters," 29 Aug. 2017
Although there were changes last season on defense and in goal, the Trojans returned mostly intact.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "Experienced defender Kyler Tanis provides an anchor for revamped Highland," 28 Aug. 2017
A customer travel advisory offering added flexibility to flight changes for Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston-Hobby, and San Antonio is in effect through Sept. 1, according to Melissa Ford, a spokeswoman for the airline.

— nabila ahmed, Bloomberg.com, "United Suspends Most Houston Flights After Harvey Slams Into U.S.," 26 Aug. 2017
Scores and highlights may be emailed to southtownsports@gmail.com Note: Schedules are subject to change because of weather and other factors.

— Daily Southtown, "Daily Southtown Local Scoreboard for Saturday, Aug. 26," 25 Aug. 2017
The findings—the first to show such a cyclical change in humans—may help researchers understand what our ancestors’ microbiomes were like before most of them switched to agriculture.

— giorgia guglielmi, Science | AAAS, "Top stories: Life-saving mini-organs, seasonal gut bacteria, and the world’s smallest antennas," 25 Aug. 2017

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

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.

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

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CHANGE Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of change for English Language Learners

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