vary

[vair-ee]

verb (used with object)

varied, varying 

1. to change or alter, as in form, appearance, character, or substance.

   to vary one's methods.

   Synonyms: mutate, modify

2. to cause to be different from something else.

   The orchestra varied last night's program with one new selection.

3. to avoid or relieve from uniformity or monotony; diversify.

   to vary one's diet.

4. Music.,  to alter (a melody or theme) by modification or embellishments without changing its identity.

verb (used without object)

varied, varying 

1. to show diversity; be different.

   The age at which children are ready to read varies.

2. to undergo change in appearance, form, substance, character, etc..

   The landscape begins to vary as one drives south.

3. to change periodically or in succession; differ or alternate.

   Demand for certain products varies with the season.

4. to diverge; depart; deviate (usually followed byfrom ).

   to vary from the norm.

5. Mathematics.,  to be subject to change.

6. Biology.,  to exhibit variation.

vary

/ ˈvɛərɪ /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo change, alteration, or modification in appearance, character, form, attribute, etc

2. to be different or cause to be different; be subject to change

3. (tr) to give variety to

4. to differ, as from a convention, standard, etc

5. (intr) to change in accordance with another variable

   her mood varies with the weather

   pressure varies directly with temperature and inversely with volume

6. (tr) music to modify (a theme) by the use of variation

Other Word Forms

• varier noun
• varyingly adverb
• intervary verb (used without object)
• overvary verb
• self-varying adjective
• unvarying adjective
• unvaryingly adverb
• varying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vary¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English varien, from Latin variāre, equivalent to vari(us) ( various ) + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of vary¹

C14: from Latin variāre, from varius _various

Example Sentences

Sir Quentin said: "I am proud to think the centre has my name on it – illustration is a wonderful universal and varied language."

Read more on BBC

Scientists have long known that genome size -- the total number of DNA base pairs containing an organism's genetic instructions -- can vary widely between species, even among those with similar complexity.

Read more on Science Daily

The goal was to compare how legacy effects varied along this climate gradient.

Read more on Science Daily

They can be present to varying degrees depending on the system, and the absence of one or more does not mean the system isn’t fascist:

Read more on Salon

Motivations for these interventions varied from fighting communism to protecting U.S. business interests to waging a war on drugs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alter 
• differ 
• diverge 
• diversify 
• divide 
• fluctuate 
• modify 
• range