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

One million tickets beginning at $28 will be available across all sports, but ticket prices will vary depending on seat location, sport and session.

From Los Angeles Times

Currently, Welsh ministers can vary income rates set by the UK government but do not have powers over the income levels at which people pay three different rates of the tax:

From BBC

At least six lower courts ruled against it, with judges of varying ideologies calling it patently illegal.

From The Wall Street Journal

"When you go to a concert, it's pretty much the same age group," she says, but when you're at cake picnic, it's so varied.

From BBC

The impact will vary by airline, he added.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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