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• alter
  alter

  verb (used with object)

  to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify.
• Alter
  Alter

  noun

  David, 1807–81, U.S. physicist.
• alter.
  alter.

  abbreviation

  alteration.

alter

¹ American  

[awl-ter] / ˈɔl tər /

verb (used with object)

• alters,
  present (3rd person singular)
• altered,
  past participle,  past
• altering
  present participle

1. to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify.

   to alter a coat; to alter a will; to alter course.

2. to castrate or spay.

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verb (used without object)

• alters,
  present (3rd person singular)
• altered,
  past participle,  past
• altering
  present participle

1. to change; become different or modified.

Alter ² American  

[awl-ter] / ˈɔl tər /

noun

1. David, 1807–81, U.S. physicist.

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alter. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. alteration.

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alter British  

/ ˈɔːltə /

verb

1. to make or become different in some respect; change

2. informal (tr) a euphemistic word for castrate spay

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Usage

What is another way to say alter?

To alter something is to make it different in some particular way, such as in size, style, or course. How does alter compare to change? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Synonym Usage

See adjust,

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• alterability
  noun
• alterer
  noun
• realter
  verb
• prealter
  verb (used with object)
• alterable
  adjective
• half-altered
  adjective
• unaltering
  adjective
• well-altered
  adjective
• alterably
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• altering
  present
• altered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• alter
  simple
• alters
  simple
• have altered
  perfect
• has altered
  perfect
• am altering
  progressive
• are altering
  progressive
• is altering
  progressive
• have been altering
  perfect progressive
• has been altering
  perfect progressive

Past

• altered
  simple
• had altered
  perfect
• was altering
  progressive
• were altering
  progressive
• had been altering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will alter
  simple
• will have altered
  perfect
• will be altering
  progressive
• will have been altering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of alter

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French alterer, from Late Latin alterāre “to change, worsen,” derivative of Latin alter “other”

Explanation

After eating too many gingerbread cookies, she no longer fit into her uniform, so she had a seamstress alter it. It looked pretty much the same. The verb alter can also mean to neuter or spay. Think of a cat that has just been spayed: the cat you pick up from the vet is the same cat that you dropped off there, only perhaps a little groggy and unable to reproduce. While the cat has been altered, it's not a different cat.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alter Alter alter. alters altered altering

She knows her film won’t single-handedly change the world or even alter specific policies, but she does believe it can have an impact.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

Researchers at Rice University have found that extremely small wrinkles in graphene can alter how the material behaves electrically.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Count Binface is the satirical alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey, who has specialised in satire and been involved with BBC comedy shows, including The Thick of It and Have I Got News For You.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

It insisted in the gazette that the extension "has a very limited impact" on existing energy policy and "does not alter the rest of the timetable", including the full nuclear phase-out by 2035.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

It was no mean feat to alter some of the dimensions without destroying the mechanisms.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

In an essay for the Journal, author Charlotte Alter argues that Michigan’s Senate primary is more than just another fight between moderates and progressives.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

The most worrisome effects, Alter says, actually appear in those of us who sit nine hours or more a day.

From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026

Another new festival coming to Wales is Blackbird - a rock event at Cardiff Castle on 27 June, with acts including Skindred, Alter Bridge and Cardinal Black.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

“I didn’t know that it was anything that would bypass any sort of verification,” said Alter, 43 years old, who splits his time between New York state and Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025

“Wait a minute, what are you doing here, Alter? Don’t tell me you were arrested?”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

"No-one ever thought it would alter. Their way of life was constant and familiar, as it had been as long as anyone could remember."

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2021

Both 4to 1679 and 1724 read'false souly', which I have ventured to alter. p.

From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume II by Montague Summers

He used his remission to promote CAR T-cell therapy, which genetically alters one’s cells to fight cancer, after he said chemotherapy stopped working.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

The process also alters many of the tea's naturally occurring compounds.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026

Moreover, the repeal of this rule substantially alters settlement dynamics.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026

Much will come out in the exchanges between the accidental roommates that alters our perceptions of both, as well as our view of those offstage personages, living and dead.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

“But surely it alters them very much, living like that?” asked Dandelion.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

After moving to Los Angeles, Lynch started visiting the Spiritual Regeneration Movement Center in Santa Monica and it altered his life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

A second draft of the letter, dated March 4, contained altered language providing that the voter information would be “transferred” to HSI, with one exception: Voters’ party affiliation would be redacted, if possible, it said.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Most types are caused by an altered gene being passed to a child by their parents and blood tests can be used to confirm a diagnosis.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Instead, the findings suggest that very different experiences may sometimes engage overlapping brain processes associated with altered states of consciousness.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026

Auntie Harrigan had altered her hair again; this time it was dyed bright red and cut super short and spiky.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

He said what happened with Afropunk is “a tale as old as time” and Morgan being outside of the movement led to “moneyed interests” altering what Spooner had created.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

His decision was the clearest example of the seismic shift that is permanently altering the shape of football careers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

"Our findings suggest that the life history of blood stem cells could influence the risk of brain diseases by altering the microglia," Jaiswal said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026

Second, they called on the government to put greater consideration into the crimes committed by prisoners when altering their sentences.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

We’re barred from altering it in any way or interfering with the players.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• adjust
• amend
• change
• develop
• modify
• reshape
• revamp
• revise
• shift
• transform
• vary