change

American  

[cheynj] / 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

Jones said she had spoken with GP practice nurses two weeks ago and was not aware of any increase in patients complaining about respiratory problems, but added this "could change in the months ahead".

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

That’s expected to change at some point, but the group went into July with major reloading to do after an expensive second quarter taken up by the primary runoff.

From Salon ● Aug. 22, 2026

The formula can also change depending on what benefits the individual is applying for.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

Carr has made inquiries about the affiliation change from KDNL, the network’s home for more than 30 years, to KMOV, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

I push against the change room door but my shoulder bounces off it.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

“LIV Golf recognizes the disappointment these changes may bring for fans, local stakeholders, Thomas Rhett and Disco Lines, and appreciates the significant time and effort invested by the artists and their teams,” the league said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Amid public backlash, the company announced this month several platform changes, including a shorter data retention window and audit tools for law enforcement customers intended to flag abnormal search behavior.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Speaking to BBC News NI, Butler said that he would work to convince people that "any changes that come, wherever that may be, is made in the best interests of the people".

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Solicitor General John Sauer, in the appeal to the Supreme Court, also stressed the security aspects of the project and argued that the president has the authority to make changes to the White House.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Only once did the changes taking place in Germany reach inside the little shop on the Barteljorisstraat, and that was in the person of a young German watchmaker.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

In 2017, a California Court of Appeal reversed Miles’ conviction, acknowledging that new, credible confessions would have changed the outcome of his trial.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Home prices in America have changed dramatically over the last century — but the Midwest has remained a bastion of affordability through it all.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

Public events became less frequent, and the atmosphere changed.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Crude oil futures were little changed and on track for weekly gains amid market expectations of an extended standoff in the Persian Gulf between the U.S. and Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Like all our meddling in the past hadn’t changed the future, but, of course, it had.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

It is not the only African food shop here - there is another just metres away, responding to the area's changing population.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

But after changing the hospital and then moving Khan "back to jail, we've lost that hope as well", he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Time and reality have a way of changing people’s perspectives, and I suspect many people will eventually regret some of the choices they made while they were angry.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

“These are players that are changing the landscape of the game,” Ogwumike said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

There was a squareness to her jaw, a look Cat recognized from the times Mom had made up her mind and there would be no changing it.

From "Caterpillar Summer" by Gillian McDunn

Related Words

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