modify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to change somewhat the form or qualities of; alter partially; amend.
to modify a contract.
-
Grammar. (of a word, phrase, or clause) to stand in a syntactically subordinate relation to (another word, phrase, or clause), usually with descriptive, limiting, or particularizing meaning; be a modifier. In a good man, good modifies man.
-
to be the modifier or attribute of.
-
to change (a vowel) by umlaut.
-
to reduce or lessen in degree or extent; moderate; soften.
to modify one's demands.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to change the structure, character, intent, etc, of
-
to make less extreme or uncompromising
to modify a demand
-
grammar (of a word or group of words) to bear the relation of modifier to (another word or group of words)
-
linguistics to change (a vowel) by umlaut
-
(intr) to be or become modified
Related Words
Modify, qualify, temper suggest altering an original statement, condition, or the like, so as to avoid anything excessive or extreme. To modify is to alter in one or more particulars, generally in the direction of leniency or moderation: to modify demands, rates. To qualify is to restrict or limit by exceptions or conditions: to qualify one's praise, hopes. To temper is to alter the quality of something, generally so as to diminish its force or harshness: to temper one's criticism with humor.
Other Word Forms
- modifiability noun
- modifiable adjective
- modifiableness noun
- nonmodifying adjective
- overmodify verb
- premodify verb (used with object)
- remodify verb
- unmodifiable adjective
- unmodified adjective
Etymology
Origin of modify
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English modifien, from Middle French modifier, from Latin modificāre “to impose a rule or pattern, regulate, restrain”; equivalent to mode 1 + -ify
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.
But Lubitsch envisioned, as no one else did, what might come of marrying sound films with a modified form of operetta.
In 1983, Congress modified Social Security to gradually raise the full retirement age from 65 to 67.
Steinberger released OpenClaw as an open-source project in November, meaning it is freely distributed and anyone can help create and modify it.
A couple of tracks don’t quite jell with the concept, as if they were written for another project and then modified to fit here.
“This one does. It’s been modified,” Gary said.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
