vary

American  

[vair-ee] / ˈvɛər i /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of vary

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

Example Sentences

These trails are varying levels of difficulty, but are listed as moderate because none of them should require you to have significant technical outdoors knowledge.

From Los Angeles Times

The reasons our bills are rising are complex and varied.

From The Wall Street Journal

Its requirements also apply to children, but vary for different age groups.

From BBC

“In 73% of Georgia’s 159 counties, the margin of the hand count varied from the original by 10 voters or fewer,” these pages reported at the time.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some pharmacies can produce the drug in-house, known as compounding, but the consistency varies and the acidity causes eyes to sting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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