vary
Americanverb (used with object)
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varies,
present (3rd person singular)
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varied,
past participle, past
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varying
present participle
-
to change or alter, as in form, appearance, character, or substance.
to vary one's methods.
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to cause to be different from something else.
The orchestra varied last night's program with one new selection.
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to avoid or relieve from uniformity or monotony; diversify.
to vary one's diet.
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Music. to alter (a melody or theme) by modification or embellishments without changing its identity.
verb (used without object)
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varies,
present (3rd person singular)
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varied,
past participle, past
-
varying
present participle
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to show diversity; be different.
The age at which children are ready to read varies.
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to undergo change in appearance, form, substance, character, etc..
The landscape begins to vary as one drives south.
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to change periodically or in succession; differ or alternate.
Demand for certain products varies with the season.
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to diverge; depart; deviate (usually followed byfrom ).
to vary from the norm.
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Mathematics. to be subject to change.
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Biology. to exhibit variation.
verb
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to undergo or cause to undergo change, alteration, or modification in appearance, character, form, attribute, etc
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to be different or cause to be different; be subject to change
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(tr) to give variety to
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to differ, as from a convention, standard, etc
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(intr) to change in accordance with another variable
her mood varies with the weather
pressure varies directly with temperature and inversely with volume
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(tr) music to modify (a theme) by the use of variation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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variernoun
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overvaryverb
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intervaryverb (used without object)
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self-varyingadjective
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unvaryingadjective
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varyingadjective
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unvaryinglyadverb
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varyinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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varysimple
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variessimple
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have variedperfect
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has variedperfect
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am varyingprogressive
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are varyingprogressive
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is varyingprogressive
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have been varyingperfect progressive
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has been varyingperfect progressive
Past
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variedsimple
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had variedperfect
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was varyingprogressive
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were varyingprogressive
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had been varyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of vary
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English varien, from Latin variāre, equivalent to vari(us) ( see various) + -āre infinitive suffix
Explanation
If you're tired of the same old breakfast of bran flakes and orange juice, vary your routine—put some banana slices on those bran flakes. You can vary the routine by changing the details but keeping the basics the same. Use the verb vary when you're talking about changing up your usual routine. If your schedule changes at work, you might have to vary your sleep habits. A good dye job will vary the tints a little to look more natural. The ambiance at Olive Garden varies from restaurant to restaurant, but the unlimited breadsticks are always delicious. You'll probably recognize the root vari, which shows up in other words with similar meanings, like various, variable, and even variegated.
Vocabulary lists containing vary
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But there is no standardized public key for deciphering them; codes vary among plants and products, and the absence of an obvious “TF” is no guarantee Taylor Farms wasn’t involved.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
That shift can put Southern California in the crosshairs of potentially potent tropical moisture, though the pattern’s effects vary by area.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Account minimums may vary depending on the relationships between the fund manager or distributor and the advisory or brokerage firm.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
A-level grades can be shared with students from 08:00 BST but arrangements vary depending on the school or college.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Can they find water and bamboo? Can they survive the different seasons, as the amount of food can vary between seasons.”
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
Standard home inspections don’t necessarily involve checks for problems like lead, mold or termites — but that also varies by state and inspector.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
For the nonprofit, which pioneered the concept years ago, understanding the community need is vital and programming varies widely across its 19 school district partners.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
"The appearance of different species varies dramatically, from low shrubs to tall trees. Most striking are the leaves, which range from large and entire to small and deeply lobed," says Martin.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
Bunney said most jellyfish have stinging cells but the severity and detectability of the sting varies widely between species.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
From what Bailey can see, the space between layers varies from room enough to walk straight through to barely enough to crawl.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
However, exercising on varied and even unstable surfaces can reduce this wear-and-tear process.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
They have varied from obscure Latin texts to cowboy novels.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
KD1’s appearance has sparked varied reactions from fans of Big Bear’s famed eagles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
His filmography is as vast and varied as this bizarre castle’s meanderings, with life lessons for anyone.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
Unlike other potters, who traced a complete pattern with their initial incisions, Min sometimes varied from the sketchy tracing; his work seemed to flow more freely both in the making and in the final result.
From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
Recent media reporting has portrayed varying perspectives on operational tempo, crew morale and the realities facing our deployed forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
A partial eclipse happens about twice a year, to varying degrees.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Which have worked to varying degrees so far.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
In the 12-week study, 74 adults consumed different amounts of dairy under varying dietary conditions.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
The letter was handwritten on fine, unlined paper in looping script so ornate it was almost calligraphy, the black ink varying in tone like that of an old fountain pen.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
