change 1 of 2

noun

Definition of changenext
1
as in alteration
the act, process, or result of making different the positive change in our students' attitude toward people who are somehow different was a long and gradual process

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fluctuation
the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another there is nothing so constant as change itself

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment she spent quite a chunk of change on that car

Synonyms & Similar Words

change

2 of 2

verb

ˈchānj How to pronounce change (audio)
1
as in to modify
to make different in some way my wife has changed the look of our living room more times than we care to remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to vary
to pass from one form, state, or level to another the weather in New England is constantly changing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return would you mind changing your seat so my friends can sit together?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word change different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of change are alter, modify, and vary. While all these words 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

When might alter be a better fit than change?

Although the words alter and change have much in common, alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity.

slightly altered the original design

When is it sensible to use modify instead of change?

The synonyms modify and change are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose.

modified the building for use by the disabled

Where would vary be a reasonable alternative to change?

In some situations, the words vary and change are roughly equivalent. However, vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition.

vary your daily routine

How is the word change different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of change are alter, modify, and vary. While all these words 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

When might alter be a better fit than change?

Although the words alter and change have much in common, alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity.

slightly altered the original design

When is it sensible to use modify instead of change?

The synonyms modify and change are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose.

modified the building for use by the disabled

Where would vary be a reasonable alternative to change?

In some situations, the words vary and change are roughly equivalent. However, vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition.

vary your daily routine

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of change
Noun
Research has also shown that a change in mindset can re-circuit the brain to handle stress more efficiently. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026 There are no changes to payment methods for child accounts, who will still need to use the organizer's payment method. —James Peckham, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
That changes things up for Diabate. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Mar. 2026 When companies change ownership or shut down, your data does not simply disappear. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for change
Recent Examples of Synonyms for change
  1. alteration
  2. fluctuation
  3. money
  4. modify
  5. vary
  6. exchange
  7. difference
  8. oscillation
Noun
  • Naturally, any alteration to baseball’s revenue-sharing mechanism would first have to be approved by the players’ union, which brings us full circle to the expiring CBA.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
  • The study authors also found that the ratio of gaseous carbon dioxide to ice differs significantly from what is seen in star-forming regions, indicating that the processes controlling ice formation or alteration in planetary nebulae may be very different.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of alteration
Noun
  • Given Indonesia’s limited 20-day reserve, Adhiguna warned that price fluctuations in Indonesia’s fuel market will be swift.
    — Anton L. Delgado, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Aekib Avdagic, president of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, said that although the sector has faced difficulties such as rising costs and currency fluctuations, the commitment to textiles remains firm.
    — Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of fluctuation
Noun
  • Richins declined to testify at the trial, where the prosecution painted her as a killer set on taking her husband's money.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Iza held the victim at gunpoint and demanded the business partner transfer money to him — which the business partner did later that day, documents filed in Los Angeles federal court show.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of money
Verb
  • The tech industry has fiercely lobbied against efforts to modify or abolish Section 230, as it is considered a cornerstone of Silicon Valley’s growth over the past 30 years.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026
  • The council also amended the ordinance’s reporting requirements, modifying them from one annual report to semiannual reports, with an initial report covering January through December 2025 due by the end of the fiscal year.
    — Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of modify
Verb
  • Fuel costs typically vary by region, with some areas having much lower gas prices than others.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
  • While these formulas often share the same active ingredients, the dosage amount may vary.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of vary
Verb
  • The Cowboys and Pickens’ agent haven’t exchanged any contract offers to merit progress toward a new deal.
    — Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
  • When residents go through the checkout line in the grocery store, no money will be exchanged.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of exchange
Noun
  • But the Croatian’s two big stops were the difference between a point and nothing.
    — Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 15 Mar. 2026
  • The crack spread is the difference between the price of crude oil and the price of products produced from it, like gasoline.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • The patterns of these oscillations are called modes, and the frequency of these modes is imprinted on the gravitational waves that the binary neutron stars radiate away.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Taken altogether, this explains the decrease in time between SN 2024afav’s luminosity oscillations and confirms Kasen’s magnetar theory.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of oscillation

Phrases Containing change

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chandeliers
change
changeability
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Cite this Entry

“Change.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/change. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on change

Nglish: Translation of change for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about change

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