change 1 of 2

Definition of changenext
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

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
There’s no guarantee reform will lead to a complete cultural change, of course. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026 Remember to also keep tabs on real-time conditions using NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast and space-weather apps that track solar wind and magnetic field changes. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, the company status didn't change much, focusing on powering the defense industry and post-war development. Dean Narciso, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 That changes with the S/C, which stands for Sport Cabriolet (the car is unrelated to the old 911 SC, or Super Carrera). Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for change
Recent Examples of Synonyms for change
Noun
  • As a 5-footer, my favorite part is that the pants are available in a petite-friendly inseam, along with four other inseam options, limiting the need for alterations.
    Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Together, these alterations reveal that our sense of bodily self is not rigid but can be reshaped, at least for a short time, by changing the information the brain receives.
    Utkarsh Gupta, Scientific American, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The drop in Hermes shares was even steeper, last seen down 12% as currency fluctuations weighed on the firm's sales figures.
    Joseph Wilkins,Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Early springtime is often considered a good time for tree pruning, just before new growth appears, but spring weather can make this challenging when there's temperature fluctuations and unexpected rain showers.
    Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Participants don’t get their scholarship money until passing their first semester back with C’s or better.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • One of the alleged victims, 95-year-old Angela Liriano, said she was left without money for food after her benefits disappeared.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Unlike current treatments that primarily manage symptoms by replacing dopamine, the experimental therapy aims to modify the disease itself, a shift experts describe as potentially transformative.
    Ted Scouten, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The singer's brother Eric Stefani wrote the first version, and modified it with help from a freshly heartbroken Gwen, who had just broken up with the band's bassist Tony Kanal — one of a few times in music history that the subject of the song also contributed to its production.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Police said the devices varied in size and composition.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The amount also varies over time, further complicating the estimates.
    Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Demetra Henderson-Burkhalter, meanwhile, had also exchanged many calls with a New Orleans man named Cornelius Garrison III, who had been a plaintiff in a lawsuit arising from a truck collision in 2015 and had been listed as a witness to another collision in 2014.
    Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • But Kardashian and Barker’s wedding is better known for its apparent Dolce & Gabbana brand integration—the fashion house designed the bride’s wedding looks and the seaside villa where the couple exchanged their vows was owned by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The difference came down to shot-making.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Adding your mattress to your spring cleaning checklist can make a real difference.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For instance, light particles like positrons (or electrons, in this experiment) need extremely fast oscillations, gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, to stay confined.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026
  • But the oscillation wasn’t happening slowly over millions of miles between the sun and the Earth.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Change.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/change. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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