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change

American  

[cheynj] / tʃeɪndʒ /

verb (used with object)

• changes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• changed,
  past participle,  past
• changing
  present participle

1. to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.

   to change one's name;

   to change one's opinion;

   to change the course of history.

   Synonyms:

   modify, amend, mutate, vary, transform, transmute

2. to transform or convert (usually followed byinto ).

   The witch changed the prince into a toad.

3. to substitute another or others for; exchange for something else, usually of the same kind.

   She changed her shoes when she got home from the office.

   Synonyms:

   swap, replace

4. to give and take reciprocally; interchange.

   to change places with someone.

   Synonyms:

   trade

5. to transfer from one (conveyance) to another.

   You'll have to change planes in Chicago.

6. to give or get an equivalent amount of money in lower denominations in exchange for.

   to change a five-dollar bill.

7. to give or get foreign money in exchange for.

   to change dollars into euros.

   Synonyms:

   convert

8. to remove and replace the covering or coverings of.

   to change a bed.

9. to remove a dirty diaper from (a baby) and replace it with a clean one.

   new parents, learning to change a baby.

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verb (used without object)

• changes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• changed,
  past participle,  past
• changing
  present participle

1. to become different.

   Overnight the nation's mood changed.

2. to become altered or modified.

   Colors change if they are exposed to the sun.

   Synonyms:

   alternate, mutate, vary

   Antonyms:

   remain

3. to become transformed or converted (usually followed byinto ).

   The toad changed back into a prince.

4. to pass gradually into (usually followed by to orinto ).

   Summer changed to autumn.

5. to switch or to make an exchange.

   If you want to sit next to the window, I'll change with you.

6. to transfer between trains or other conveyances.

   We can take the local and change to an express at the next stop.

7. to remove one's clothes and put on different clothes.

   She changed into jeans.

8. (of the moon) to pass from one phase to another.

9. (of the voice) to become deeper in tone; come to have a lower register.

   The boy's voice began to change when he was thirteen.

noun

• changes
  plural

1. the act or fact of changing; fact of being changed.

   They are pleased by the change in their son's behavior.

   Synonyms:

   vicissitude, conversion, mutation, transmutation

   Antonyms:

   permanence

2. a transformation or modification; alteration.

   They noticed the change in his facial expression.

3. a variation or deviation.

   a change in the daily routine.

4. the substitution of one thing for another.

   We finally made the change to an oil-burning furnace.

   Synonyms:

   exchange

5. variety or novelty.

   Let's try a new restaurant for a change.

6. the passing from one place, state, form, or phase to another.

   a change of seasons;

   social change.

7. Jazz. harmonic progression from one tonality to another; modulation.

8. the supplanting of one thing by another.

   We need a total change of leadership.

   Synonyms:

   replacement

9. anything that is or may be substituted for another.

   Synonyms:

   replacement

10. a fresh set of clothing.

11. money given in exchange for an equivalent of higher denomination.

12. a balance of money that is returned when the sum tendered in payment is larger than the sum due.

13. coins of low denomination.

14. any of the various sequences in which a peal of bells may be rung.

15. British. Also 'change exchange.

16. Obsolete. changefulness; caprice.

verb phrase

1. change off

   1. to take turns with another, as at doing a task.

   2. to alternate between two tasks or between a task and a rest break.

idioms

1. change one's mind, to change one's opinions or intentions.

2. change hands. hand.

3. ring the changes,

   1. to perform all permutations possible in ringing a set of tuned bells, as in a bell tower of a church.

   2. to vary the manner of performing an action or of discussing a subject; repeat with variations.

4. change front, to shift a military force in another direction.

change British  

/ tʃeɪndʒ /

verb

1. to make or become different; alter

2. (tr) to replace with or exchange for another

   to change one's name

3. to transform or convert or be transformed or converted

4. to give and receive (something) in return; interchange

   to change places with someone

5. (tr) to give or receive (money) in exchange for the equivalent sum in a smaller denomination or different currency

6. (tr) to remove or replace the coverings of

   to change a baby

7. to put on other clothes

8. (intr) (of the moon) to pass from one phase to the following one

9. to operate (the gear lever of a motor vehicle) in order to alter the gear ratio

   to change gear

10. to alight from (one bus, train, etc) and board another

11. to rotate the telescope of a surveying instrument through 180° horizontally and vertically, taking a second sighting of the same object in order to reduce error

12. informal to put on different shoes, boots, etc

13. 1. military to redeploy (a force in the field) so that its main weight of weapons points in another direction

    2. to alter one's attitude, opinion, etc

14. to pass from one owner to another

15. to alter one's decision or opinion

16. to alter one's attitude or tone of speech

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noun

1. the act or fact of changing or being changed

2. a variation, deviation, or modification

3. the substitution of one thing for another; exchange

4. anything that is or may be substituted for something else

5. variety or novelty (esp in the phrase for a change )

   I want to go to France for a change

6. a different or fresh set, esp of clothes

7. money given or received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or in a different currency

8. the balance of money given or received when the amount tendered is larger than the amount due

9. coins of a small denomination regarded collectively

10. archaic (often capital) a place where merchants meet to transact business; an exchange

11. the act of passing from one state or phase to another

12. the transition from one phase of the moon to the next

13. the order in which a peal of bells may be rung

14. sport short for changeover

15. slang desirable or useful information

16. obsolete fickleness or caprice

17. a profound change of outlook, opinion, etc

18. slang not to be successful in attempts to exploit or extract information from someone

19. to vary the manner or performance of an action that is often repeated

change More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing change

• for a change
• leopard cannot change its spots
• piece of change
• ring the changes

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Usage

What is another way to say change? To change something is to make its form, nature, or content different from what it is currently or from what it would be if left alone. How is change different from alter? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• changedness
  noun
• changelessness
  noun
• changer
  noun
• unchangingness
  noun
• changeless
  adjective
• unchanged
  adjective
• unchanging
  adjective
• changelessly
  adverb
• unchangingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• changes
  plural

Participles

• changing
  present
• changed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• change
  simple
• changes
  simple
• have changed
  perfect
• has changed
  perfect
• am changing
  progressive
• are changing
  progressive
• is changing
  progressive
• have been changing
  perfect progressive
• has been changing
  perfect progressive

Past

• changed
  simple
• had changed
  perfect
• was changing
  progressive
• were changing
  progressive
• had been changing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will change
  simple
• will have changed
  perfect
• will be changing
  progressive
• will have been changing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of change

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb cha(u)ngen, from Anglo-French, Old French changer, from Late Latin cambiāre, Latin cambīre “to exchange, barter”; Middle English noun cha(u)nge, from Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of the verb; of Celtic origin

Explanation

Is it just not the same anymore? Then there must have been a change. The noun change can refer to any thing or state that is different from what it once was. Change is everywhere in life — and in English. The word has numerous senses, both as a noun and verb, and is a part of many common phrases, like "a change of heart." Change might describe a drastic transformation, as in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, or it could also represent what’s jingling in your pocket.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

change changes changed changing

Sentencing Webster to two years, Judge Anthony Potter said he had been given numerous opportunities to show remorse and change his behaviour.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

It isn’t unusual for college students to be rebellious and then change when they get older.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

Climate change increases El Nino's global weather impacts.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

“To watch you be a bad actor was so hilarious and then you would you would modulate it and change it,” Giamatti continues.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

“I should leave my switchboard and change now?”

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Four changes were made to the bowling attack after Hesson was asked to take charge for the final Test.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

"We feel responsible for starting to inform society about the rapid and dynamic technological changes which personally frighten us," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

The foreign exchange market may therefore provide more than a signal about changes in economic growth and monetary policy.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 7, 2026

Although equine influenza upset life for only a few weeks in each of the many communities it struck, Mr. Dugatkin contends that it triggered major changes in medicine, transportation and animal rights.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

It is the key to species adaptability and to healthy populations—providing the greatest chance for species survival when faced with external, environmental changes.

From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh

“The external environment that sustained the eurozone’s export-led model for decades has changed for good,” wrote economists at ING Bank.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

“I saw how it changed my dad,” Elsesser says.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

But Jackson’s ascent has changed things for her, she said.

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

WSJ: How has the canal changed over the four decades you have worked there?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

Our places in the race had not changed.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Gulf oil officials, who run checks to see what their customers are buying before setting the monthly price for their oil, said they have found few Iranian cargoes changing hands.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

Pressure is falling on Monday, the wind direction is changing and a weather front is moving down from the north-west, signalling a change to cooler and fresher weather.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

A new study suggests that deliberately changing the rhythm of your breathing can influence how you make decisions by altering activity in both the heart and brain.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

The two share a similar cultural background, one forged by migration, changing borders and centuries of history.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Zheng considered for a little while, his face changing from one expression to another as if he was debating with himself.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Related Words

• adjust
• alter
• evolve
• fluctuate
• modify
• reform
• resolve
• shape
• shift
• transform
• turn
• vary