change
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.
to transform or convert (usually followed by into): The witch changed the prince into a toad.
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.
to give and take reciprocally; interchange: to change places with someone.
to transfer from one (conveyance) to another: You'll have to change planes in Chicago.
to give or get an equivalent amount of money in lower denominations in exchange for: to change a five-dollar bill.
to give or get foreign money in exchange for: to change dollars into euros.
to remove and replace the covering or coverings of: to change a bed.
to remove a dirty diaper from (a baby) and replace it with a clean one: new parents, learning to change a baby.
to become different: Overnight the nation's mood changed.
to become altered or modified: Colors change if they are exposed to the sun.
to become transformed or converted (usually followed by into): The toad changed back into a prince.
to pass gradually into (usually followed by to or into): Summer changed to autumn.
to switch or to make an exchange: If you want to sit next to the window, I'll change with you.
to transfer between trains or other conveyances: We can take the local and change to an express at the next stop.
to remove one's clothes and put on different clothes: She changed into jeans.
(of the moon) to pass from one phase to another.
(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.
the act or fact of changing; fact of being changed: They are pleased by the change in their son's behavior.
a transformation or modification; alteration: They noticed the change in his facial expression.
a variation or deviation: a change in the daily routine.
the substitution of one thing for another: We finally made the change to an oil-burning furnace.
variety or novelty: Let's try a new restaurant for a change.
the passing from one place, state, form, or phase to another: a change of seasons;social change.
Jazz. harmonic progression from one tonality to another; modulation.
the supplanting of one thing by another: We need a total change of leadership.
anything that is or may be substituted for another.
a fresh set of clothing.
money given in exchange for an equivalent of higher denomination.
a balance of money that is returned when the sum tendered in payment is larger than the sum due.
coins of low denomination.
any of the various sequences in which a peal of bells may be rung.
Also 'change .British. exchange (def. 10).
Obsolete. changefulness; caprice.
change off,
to take turns with another, as at doing a task.
to alternate between two tasks or between a task and a rest break.
Idioms about change
change front, Military. to shift a military force in another direction.
change hands. hand (def. 48).
change one's mind, to change one's opinions or intentions.
ring the changes,
to perform all permutations possible in ringing a set of tuned bells, as in a bell tower of a church.
to vary the manner of performing an action or of discussing a subject; repeat with variations.
Origin of change
1word story For change
The French development from cambiāre to changier is regular; other Romance languages have developed in differing ways: Spanish and Portuguese cambiar keep cambiāre more or less intact; Catalan has canviar; Sardinian has cambiare; Old Provençal has both cambiar and camjar; Old Italian (late 12th century) has cambiare, but modern Italian only cangiare.
The Middle English verb was used to refer to the exchange of money, coins, or currency, but the corresponding noun meanings did not appear until the mid-16th century; the specific usage “the balance of money returned to a buyer” is first recorded in 1665.
Other words for change
| 1 | transmute, transform; vary, mutate; amend, modify |
| 3 | replace, swap |
| 4 | trade |
| 7 | convert |
| 11 | vary, mutate, alternate |
| 19 | transmutation, mutation, conversion, vicissitude |
| 22 | exchange |
| 26, 27 | replacement |
Opposites for change
Other words from change
- chang·ed·ness [cheyn-jid-nis, cheynjd-], /ˈtʃeɪn dʒɪd nɪs, ˈtʃeɪndʒd-/, noun
- un·changed, adjective
- un·chang·ing, adjective
- un·chang·ing·ly, adverb
- un·chang·ing·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use change in a sentence
The pernicious smoke now blanketing the splendid cities of our nation's Western spine is a reminder that no one is exempt from climate change.
Air quality in American West among the worst in the world | Jennifer A. Kingson | September 17, 2020 | AxiosA previous version of this story incorrectly stated this was a coronavirus-related change.
Vote by mail: Which states allow absentee voting | Kate Rabinowitz, Brittany Mayes | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostMost Americans agree with the argument that problems such as climate change and pandemics are so large and complex that only through cooperative efforts can they be dealt with adequately.
Poll: Sharp partisan differences now exist on foreign policy, views of American exceptionalism | Dan Balz, Scott Clement | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostGostin said he doesn’t think the rising and falling nature of virus transmission changes that.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on | Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostThe changes in Wisconsin are more modest but still important.
The key shifts in Minnesota and Wisconsin that have improved Biden’s chances of victory | Philip Bump | September 16, 2020 | Washington Post
Unless there is a court decision that changes our law, we are OK.
Should capability delivery experience additional changes, this estimate will be revised appropriately.
And more than that—the world is ending because of the changes that many of us see as positive.
Suddenly, without warning, the whole feeling of the scene changes.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe question is will we see regime changes in both Hamas and Israel that embrace a lasting peace?
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead | Dean Obeidallah | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI take the Extream Bells, and set down the six Changes on them thus.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Richard Duckworth and Fabian StedmanAll changes are to be Rang either by walking them (as the term is) or else Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Richard Duckworth and Fabian StedmanOn four bells there are four times as many changes as on three; that is—four times six changes, which makes Twenty-four.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Richard Duckworth and Fabian StedmanOn three bells are three times as many changes as there are on two; that is—three times two changes, which makes six.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Richard Duckworth and Fabian StedmanI have drawn a Line between the figures at the extream changes, that next below the Line is the extream.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing | Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
British Dictionary definitions for change
/ (tʃeɪndʒ) /
to make or become different; alter
(tr) to replace with or exchange for another: to change one's name
(sometimes foll by to or into) to transform or convert or be transformed or converted
to give and receive (something) in return; interchange: to change places with someone
(tr) to give or receive (money) in exchange for the equivalent sum in a smaller denomination or different currency
(tr) to remove or replace the coverings of: to change a baby
(when intr, may be foll by into or out of) to put on other clothes
(intr) (of the moon) to pass from one phase to the following one
to operate (the gear lever of a motor vehicle) in order to alter the gear ratio: to change gear
to alight from (one bus, train, etc) and board another
change face 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
change feet informal to put on different shoes, boots, etc
change front
military to redeploy (a force in the field) so that its main weight of weapons points in another direction
to alter one's attitude, opinion, etc
change hands to pass from one owner to another
change one's mind to alter one's decision or opinion
change one's tune to alter one's attitude or tone of speech
the act or fact of changing or being changed
a variation, deviation, or modification
the substitution of one thing for another; exchange
anything that is or may be substituted for something else
variety or novelty (esp in the phrase for a change): I want to go to France for a change
a different or fresh set, esp of clothes
money given or received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or in a different currency
the balance of money given or received when the amount tendered is larger than the amount due
coins of a small denomination regarded collectively
(often capital) archaic a place where merchants meet to transact business; an exchange
the act of passing from one state or phase to another
the transition from one phase of the moon to the next
the order in which a peal of bells may be rung
sport short for changeover (def. 3b)
slang desirable or useful information
obsolete fickleness or caprice
change of heart a profound change of outlook, opinion, etc
get no change out of someone slang not to be successful in attempts to exploit or extract information from someone
ring the changes to vary the manner or performance of an action that is often repeated
Origin of change
1- See also change down, changeover, change round, change up
Derived forms of change
- changeless, adjective
- changelessly, adverb
- changelessness, noun
- changer, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with change
In addition to the idioms beginning with change
- change hands
- change horses in midstream, don't
- change off
- change of heart
- change of life
- change of pace
- change one's mind
- change one's stripes
- change one's tune
- change the subject
also see:
- for a change
- leopard cannot change its spots
- piece of change
- ring the changes
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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