vary

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

Examples of vary in a Sentence

The terrain varies as you climb higher. The cost of a room at the hotel varies with the season. Their services vary depending on the customer. They've tried to improve their procedures, with varying degrees of success. The diamonds vary in size. Colors vary from light to dark. I try to vary my diet by eating different kinds of foods.

Recent Examples on the Web

In dollar amounts, the increase will vary depending on which of the four campuses a student attends. — Deirdre Fernandes, BostonGlobe.com, "Tuition at UMass system to increase by 2.5 percent," 14 July 2018 Nerve agent side effects will vary depending on factors like the type of agent used and the method of contact. — Allison Barrie, Fox News, "Innovative project harnesses Legos and smartphones in the fight against invisible, deadly weapons," 13 July 2018 Retinoids Are Basically Vitamin A All retinoids are derived from Vitamin A, but the names and branding can vary. — Ashley Weatherford, The Cut, "Is This Vitamin the Secret to Smooth Skin?," 10 July 2018 The answer might vary based on the nature and size of your appetite. — Michael Mcgough, sacbee, "A 6-foot-10 NBA center enjoyed Sacramento's cheesiest burger. Here's why he was in town," 9 July 2018 And polling results can vary depending on the question. — John Baer, Philly.com, "Expect Trump's Supreme Court pick to heighten abortion's impact on Pa. governor race," 8 July 2018 Tuition rates can vary dramatically depending on if a student lives in the college’s taxing district, qualifies as state resident or has nonresident status. — Jaimy Jones, Houston Chronicle, "San Jac may drop ‘not needed’ policy on undocumented immigrants, in-state tuition," 5 July 2018 And of course, beliefs over what constitutes censorship versus legitimate moderation can vary widely. — Jacob Silverman, Longreads, "Private Telegram, Public Strife," 3 July 2018 The amount and frequency of watering will vary depending on the soil conditions in your garden and weather conditions. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Missed the spring planting season? It's not too late to plant.," 2 July 2018

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

History and Etymology for vary

Middle English varien, borrowed from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French varier, borrowed from Latin variāre "to mark with contrasting colors, give variety to, make changeable," derivative of varius "having contrasting colors, of different kinds, changeable," of uncertain origin

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