modify

[ mod-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, mod·i·fied, mod·i·fy·ing.

1. to change somewhat the form or qualities of; alter partially; amend:

   to modify a contract.

   Synonyms: reform, shape, adjust, vary

2. 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.
3. to be the modifier or attribute of.
4. to change (a vowel) by umlaut.
5. to reduce or lessen in degree or extent; moderate; soften:

   to modify one's demands.

verb (used without object)

, mod·i·fied, mod·i·fy·ing.

1. to be or become modified.

modify

/ ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to change the structure, character, intent, etc, of
2. to make less extreme or uncompromising

   to modify a demand

3. grammar (of a word or group of words) to bear the relation of modifier to (another word or group of words)
4. linguistics to change (a vowel) by umlaut
5. intr to be or become modified

Derived Forms

• ˌmodiˌfiaˈbility, noun
• ˈmodiˌfiable, adjective

Other Words From

• modi·fia·ble adjective
• modi·fia·bili·ty modi·fia·ble·ness noun
• non·modi·fying adjective
• over·modi·fy verb overmodified overmodifying
• pre·modi·fy verb (used with object) premodified premodifying
• re·modi·fy verb remodified remodifying
• un·modi·fia·ble adjective
• un·modi·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of modify¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of modify¹

C14: from Old French modifier, from Latin modificāre to limit, control, from modus measure + facere to make

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

For example, you could modify unicorn keywords to more accurately reflect your services.

From Search Engine Watch

The ability to hear neural chatter, understand it and perhaps even modify it could change and improve people’s lives in ways that go well beyond medical treatments.

From Science News

His team uses genetically modified mice whose olfactory neurons are tinted with fluorescent proteins that light up when they engage in response to an odor.

From Nautilus

We’ve modified our protocols throughout the season based upon the data and the learning that we’ve gotten from the testing and tracing programs.

From Washington Post

You can also include or exclude any options that you want in your sitemap file, such as Noindex pages, last modified date, Paginated URLs, PDFs, Images, etc.

From Search Engine Watch

Do we critique those women who would modify themselves just to reach those standards?

From The Daily Beast

My exact words were to allow ‘any fool in the world with Internet access’ to freely modify any page on the site.

From The Daily Beast

Like Berners-Lee, Cunningham made his basic software available for anyone to modify and use.

From The Daily Beast

McNaughton says Pennsylvania has no plans to modify its existing cocktail.

From The Daily Beast

Or, you can modify that rule by observing that each work of art generates its own unique rules….

From The Daily Beast

All elements of expression modify each other, so that no mere rule can cover all cases.

From Project Gutenberg

The treaty with Great Britain cannot modify the nature of China in a few months.

From Project Gutenberg

The seven godmothers could modify, but could not annul Alcuine's decree, and thus the fate of the Princess was determined.

From Project Gutenberg

Phrases and clauses may lose their reference by being removed from the words they modify.

From Project Gutenberg

If the herbage or other food affect the taste of the milk or cream, it will also modify the flavor of the cheese.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adapt
• adjust
• correct
• customize
• repair
• reshape
• revise
• rework
• tweak
• vary