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Which musician released the hit song "Changes" in the 1970s?

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change

American  

[chaynj] / tʃeɪndʒ /

verb (used with object)

• changes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• changed,
  past participle,  past
• changing
  present participle

1. to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone.

   to change one's name;

   to change one's opinion;

   to change the course of history.

   Synonyms:

   modify, amend, mutate, vary, transform, transmute

2. to transform or convert (usually followed byinto ).

   The witch changed the prince into a toad.

3. to substitute another or others for; exchange for something else, usually of the same kind.

   She changed her shoes when she got home from the office.

   Synonyms:

   swap, replace

4. to give and take reciprocally; interchange.

   to change places with someone.

   Synonyms:

   trade

5. to transfer from one (conveyance) to another.

   You'll have to change planes in Chicago.

6. to give or get an equivalent amount of money in lower denominations in exchange for.

   to change a five-dollar bill.

7. to give or get foreign money in exchange for.

   to change dollars into euros.

   Synonyms:

   convert

8. to remove and replace the covering or coverings of.

   to change a bed.

9. to remove a dirty diaper from (a baby) and replace it with a clean one.

   new parents, learning to change a baby.

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verb (used without object)

• changes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• changed,
  past participle,  past
• changing
  present participle

1. to become different.

   Overnight the nation's mood changed.

2. to become altered or modified.

   Colors change if they are exposed to the sun.

   Synonyms:

   alternate, mutate, vary

   Antonyms:

   remain

3. to become transformed or converted (usually followed byinto ).

   The toad changed back into a prince.

4. to pass gradually into (usually followed by to orinto ).

   Summer changed to autumn.

5. to switch or to make an exchange.

   If you want to sit next to the window, I'll change with you.

6. to transfer between trains or other conveyances.

   We can take the local and change to an express at the next stop.

7. to remove one's clothes and put on different clothes.

   She changed into jeans.

8. (of the moon) to pass from one phase to another.

9. (of the voice) to become deeper in tone; come to have a lower register.

   The boy's voice began to change when he was thirteen.

noun

• changes
  plural

1. the act or fact of changing; fact of being changed.

   They are pleased by the change in their son's behavior.

   Synonyms:

   vicissitude, conversion, mutation, transmutation

   Antonyms:

   permanence

2. a transformation or modification; alteration.

   They noticed the change in his facial expression.

3. a variation or deviation.

   a change in the daily routine.

4. the substitution of one thing for another.

   We finally made the change to an oil-burning furnace.

   Synonyms:

   exchange

5. variety or novelty.

   Let's try a new restaurant for a change.

6. the passing from one place, state, form, or phase to another.

   a change of seasons;

   social change.

7. Jazz. harmonic progression from one tonality to another; modulation.

8. the supplanting of one thing by another.

   We need a total change of leadership.

   Synonyms:

   replacement

9. anything that is or may be substituted for another.

   Synonyms:

   replacement

10. a fresh set of clothing.

11. money given in exchange for an equivalent of higher denomination.

12. a balance of money that is returned when the sum tendered in payment is larger than the sum due.

13. coins of low denomination.

14. any of the various sequences in which a peal of bells may be rung.

15. British. Also 'change exchange.

16. Obsolete. changefulness; caprice.

verb phrase

1. change off

   1. to take turns with another, as at doing a task.

   2. to alternate between two tasks or between a task and a rest break.

idioms

1. change one's mind, to change one's opinions or intentions.

2. change hands. hand.

3. ring the changes,

   1. to perform all permutations possible in ringing a set of tuned bells, as in a bell tower of a church.

   2. to vary the manner of performing an action or of discussing a subject; repeat with variations.

4. change front, to shift a military force in another direction.

change British  

/ tʃeɪndʒ /

verb

1. to make or become different; alter

2. (tr) to replace with or exchange for another

   to change one's name

3. to transform or convert or be transformed or converted

4. to give and receive (something) in return; interchange

   to change places with someone

5. (tr) to give or receive (money) in exchange for the equivalent sum in a smaller denomination or different currency

6. (tr) to remove or replace the coverings of

   to change a baby

7. to put on other clothes

8. (intr) (of the moon) to pass from one phase to the following one

9. to operate (the gear lever of a motor vehicle) in order to alter the gear ratio

   to change gear

10. to alight from (one bus, train, etc) and board another

11. to rotate the telescope of a surveying instrument through 180° horizontally and vertically, taking a second sighting of the same object in order to reduce error

12. informal to put on different shoes, boots, etc

13. 1. military to redeploy (a force in the field) so that its main weight of weapons points in another direction

    2. to alter one's attitude, opinion, etc

14. to pass from one owner to another

15. to alter one's decision or opinion

16. to alter one's attitude or tone of speech

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noun

1. the act or fact of changing or being changed

2. a variation, deviation, or modification

3. the substitution of one thing for another; exchange

4. anything that is or may be substituted for something else

5. variety or novelty (esp in the phrase for a change )

   I want to go to France for a change

6. a different or fresh set, esp of clothes

7. money given or received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or in a different currency

8. the balance of money given or received when the amount tendered is larger than the amount due

9. coins of a small denomination regarded collectively

10. archaic (often capital) a place where merchants meet to transact business; an exchange

11. the act of passing from one state or phase to another

12. the transition from one phase of the moon to the next

13. the order in which a peal of bells may be rung

14. sport short for changeover

15. slang desirable or useful information

16. obsolete fickleness or caprice

17. a profound change of outlook, opinion, etc

18. slang not to be successful in attempts to exploit or extract information from someone

19. to vary the manner or performance of an action that is often repeated

change More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing change

• for a change
• leopard cannot change its spots
• piece of change
• ring the changes

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Usage

What is another way to say change? To change something is to make its form, nature, or content different from what it is currently or from what it would be if left alone. How is change different from alter? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• changedness
  noun
• changelessness
  noun
• changer
  noun
• unchangingness
  noun
• changeless
  adjective
• unchanged
  adjective
• unchanging
  adjective
• changelessly
  adverb
• unchangingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• changes
  plural

Participles

• changing
  present
• changed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• change
  simple
• changes
  simple
• have changed
  perfect
• has changed
  perfect
• am changing
  progressive
• are changing
  progressive
• is changing
  progressive
• have been changing
  perfect progressive
• has been changing
  perfect progressive

Past

• changed
  simple
• had changed
  perfect
• was changing
  progressive
• were changing
  progressive
• had been changing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will change
  simple
• will have changed
  perfect
• will be changing
  progressive
• will have been changing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of change

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb cha(u)ngen, from Anglo-French, Old French changer, from Late Latin cambiāre, Latin cambīre “to exchange, barter”; Middle English noun cha(u)nge, from Anglo-French, Old French, noun derivative of the verb; of Celtic origin

Explanation

Is it just not the same anymore? Then there must have been a change. The noun change can refer to any thing or state that is different from what it once was. Change is everywhere in life — and in English. The word has numerous senses, both as a noun and verb, and is a part of many common phrases, like "a change of heart." Change might describe a drastic transformation, as in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, or it could also represent what’s jingling in your pocket.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

change changes changed changing

“We could no longer change anything in the budget,” Borne said in an interview.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The brain wave recordings revealed another potentially important change.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

Those contracts are priced between $0.01 and $0.99, and the price can change to reflect the collective market’s shifting expectations of how likely something is to happen.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

Carl Walker, from Jersey Consumer Council, said credit card companies would need to be reminded of the change which had allowed more information to be shared.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

“When you change the things you do because you’re scared of the way someone will react, that’s the red flag you need to pay attention to.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

However, lifestyle changes did not significantly affect loneliness, suggesting that other methods of care may be needed and more research may need to be done, Qi said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

The high base likely stems from Hong Kong, Thailand and mainland China in the same period last year, and disruption should be attributed to regulatory changes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Possible warning signs include lower back pain, abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, weight loss, and rectal bleeding.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

Islanders are still struggling to get credit cards despite personal data changes to make it easier to apply for one, a consumer council has said.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

That’s when the tone between us changes, and the reality of the empty room dawns on me.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

“We paid an attorney for a consult, but in the end, nothing would have changed other than a lot more bureaucracy. He was going to do whatever he was going to do,” Appel said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

Instead of relying on stem cells, existing cartilage cells called chondrocytes changed their patterns of gene activity and shifted toward a more youthful state.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

He said the company has changed how it handles such incidents.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

But the risk designation automatically changed to “high” when county officials made what the union characterizes as subjective conclusions about the extent of the crisis.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

“Sam. Serina. So good of you to join us, although you could have changed first.”

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

An emergency order could come soon, changing these prisoners’ lives before most people even learn the case exists.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

Cells must also be physically capable of changing shape, applying force and wrapping around dead material without compromising themselves or the surrounding tissue.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026

For Macdonald, that kind of spending is changing Europe's space industry.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Another thing to think about is changing demographics, especially with Gen Z and millennials in a phase where they may be trying to purchase homes, said Vanguard’s Huang.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

I keep changing my mind between staying close to home and going far away.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

Related Words

• adjust
• alter
• evolve
• fluctuate
• modify
• reform
• resolve
• shape
• shift
• transform
• turn
• vary