alter
verb (used with object)
to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify.
Trivia Time
In Greek mythology, which shape-shifting sea god could alter his appearance at will?
alter
1 American
[awl-ter]
/ หษl tษr /
verb (used with object)
-
alters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
altered,
past participle, past
-
altering
present participle
-
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.
-
to castrate or spay.
verb (used without object)
-
alters,
present (3rd person singular)
-
altered,
past participle, past
-
altering
present participle
Alter
2
American
[awl-ter]
/ หษl tษr /
noun
alter.
3
American
abbreviation
alter
British
/ หษหltษ /
verb
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
-
alterabilitynoun
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alterernoun
-
realterverb
-
prealterverb (used with object)
-
alterableadjective
-
half-alteredadjective
-
unalteringadjective
-
well-alteredadjective
-
alterablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
altersimple
-
alterssimple
-
have alteredperfect
-
has alteredperfect
-
am alteringprogressive
-
are alteringprogressive
-
is alteringprogressive
-
have been alteringperfect progressive
-
has been alteringperfect progressive
Past
-
alteredsimple
-
had alteredperfect
-
was alteringprogressive
-
were alteringprogressive
-
had been alteringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of alter
First recorded in 1350โ1400; Middle English, from Old French alterer, from Late Latin alterฤre โto change, worsen,โ derivative of Latin alter โotherโ
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.
Vocabulary lists containing alter
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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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:
AI is surpassing human abilities in pursuits from mathematics to computer programming, while threatening to alter or even eradicate many jobs.
From Barron's โ Oct. 16, 2026
That deal alone “isn’t enough to alter the competitive landscape, at least not in the foreseeable future,” Yoon noted.
From MarketWatch โ Oct. 13, 2026
The figure helps introduce the exhibition’s exploration of humanity’s relationship to nature; Albuquerque imagines the character as the maker of her landscape projects and considers her an alter ego.
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 13, 2026
“By that point I was out, out, out. I mean, there was no way I was going to alter my offstage behavior to please anyone.”
From Los Angeles Times โ Oct. 8, 2026
“Now, we all know what this is. This little tool is magical and can alter the past and erase your mistakes.”
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
The incident overshadowed what was supposed to be a triumphant launch for Lisa's debut solo album, Alter Ego.
From BBC โ Oct. 10, 2026
Looking back, Caroline Alter said she would’ve questioned how much to spend on flowers.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Jul. 3, 2026
Caroline Alter isn’t really a flower person, but ended up paying $55,000 for them anyway.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Jul. 3, 2026
When he gets sedentary patients, Alter prescribes exercise like a drug.
From Barron's โ Jun. 27, 2026
“It’s Alter now. It’s been a while, Andy.”
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 โ 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
The bank doesn’t think the announcement materially alters the core investment debate, as investors expected a restructuring would involve substantial charges and write-downs.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Sep. 21, 2026
In her version, Bernhard alters the lyrics to pay tribute to Sylvester, whose untimely death left an immense legacy.
From Salon โ Sep. 5, 2026
Infant formula is designed to provide the correct balance of nutrients for babies when mothers cannot or choose not to breastfeed, and adding extra water alters that balance.
From BBC โ Aug. 16, 2026
Future studies could determine whether it alters other features of the mouth that contribute to healthy teeth and gums.
From Science Daily โ Jul. 27, 2026
Whether released into soil or water or a man’s blood, these unrelated chemicals do not remain segregated; there are mysterious and unseen changes by which one alters the power of another for harm.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Understand the world with the help of the Muppets: In 2012, Dahlia Lithwick published a piece of cultural analysis that permanently altered how readers viewed their marriages, their workplaces, and the U.S.
From Slate โ Oct. 16, 2026
But open-weight models like those released by Chinese companies can be more easily altered and optimized by users for nefarious purposes.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 15, 2026
Genetic testing revealed that Gary and Shaggy each had two altered copies of FBN1, having inherited one from each parent.
From Science Daily โ Oct. 14, 2026
The weather has certainly altered in this area.
From BBC โ Oct. 8, 2026
“I don’t think anything has been altered, has it, Frank? We had all the records down at the office. Nothing has been forgotten, and I don’t think we have left anyone out.”
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Fintech companies are catching on to how Americans are altering their financial habits, and they’ve created new products to try to meet the moment.
From The Wall Street Journal โ Oct. 16, 2026
The warming phase of a natural climate cycle, El Nino events temporarily elevate global temperatures, altering cloud and wind patterns, and raise the risk of damaging weather.
From Barron's โ Oct. 15, 2026
Fintech founders have caught on to how Americans are altering their financial habits, and they’ve created new products to try to meet the moment.
From MarketWatch โ Oct. 13, 2026
But studies show that infrastructure development and tourism are squeezing its habitat, while increasing noise is altering how it communicates with potential mates and rivals.
From BBC โ Oct. 6, 2026
“By altering what he sees—making him confuse enemy with friend.”
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, ยฉ Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritageยฎ Idioms Dictionary copyright ยฉ 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
