change 1 of 2

1
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

change

2 of 2

verb

1
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

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
Unfortunately, that’s not the case here; this bill is fundamentally a re-orientation of the federal government and a change to the social compact that did much to generate American prosperity from the aftermath of the Great Depression through today. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025 Trump has repeatedly claimed that the falling out stemmed from Musk being unhappy over changes to the Electric Vehicle [EV] mandate. Rebecca Schneid, Time, 6 July 2025
Verb
That’s changed in the year and a half since: Lawson, now 21, has interviews lined up to be a train conductor, a job that starts out with an $80,000 annual salary and could open the door for other higher-earning positions in the years to come. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 July 2025 Just over a week later, the situation had not changed. Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for change
Recent Examples of Synonyms for change
Noun
  • The new push to a unified UI has led to an alteration of one of the longest-standing brand images in computing.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Hydrothermal alteration occurs when warm seawater is pushed into Earth’s crust and reacts with the rocks before returning to the ocean.
    Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Design production and hiring plans with elasticity, so capacity can ramp up or down in response to regulatory fluctuations.
    Claudio Saes, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The fluctuations are what make watching the 162-game grind all the more fascinating and make those able to stave them off feel greater than mortal.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • If companies needed money from the markets, the markets had their sources of capital appropriately drawn from those with ample surplus funds, including banks and bond issuers with the populace’s money.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In October, the project got a boost when the Department of Transportation under President Joe Biden approved Miami-Dade for $389 million toward the Northeast Corridor, money requiring congressional approval that’s still pending.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • If a married filing joint taxpayers modified AGI exceeds $600,000, the SALT cap would be $10,000.
    Lynn Mucenski Keck, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Most humanoid robots are expensive, hard to modify, and difficult to repair.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Mileage may vary on the end result, but seeing the old and new Jurassic casts team up is pretty hard to resist.
    Will Harris, EW.com, 27 June 2025
  • Like many other theme parks, prices vary by date and demand.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • The magnetic appeal of Longboat Key after many visits as well as aging parents nearby had motivated us to exchange Wisconsin winters for seaside living in the Sunshine State.
    Michelle Johnson, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • Shares of private company can be exchanged by accredited investors in secondary markets; Republic will initially price SpaceX tokens based on how the company’s shares are performing there.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Another big difference between digital and physical AI is the ability to see how a failure occurred.
    Jeff Mahler, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • What’s the difference between a virtual safety car and an actual safety car?
    Sean Gregory, Time, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Brainwaves, or neural oscillations, are regular patterns created by firing neurons or groups of neurons.
    Eva Amsen, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • This involved manually disturbing the leg and then releasing it, capturing the resulting oscillations on high-speed video.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Change.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/change. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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