vary

[ vair-ee ]

/ ˈvɛər i /

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See synonyms for: vary / varied / varies / varying on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), var·ied, var·y·ing.

to change or alter, as in form, appearance, character, or substance: to vary one's methods.

to cause to be different from something else: The orchestra varied last night's program with one new selection.

to avoid or relieve from uniformity or monotony; diversify: to vary one's diet.

Music. to alter (a melody or theme) by modification or embellishments without changing its identity.

verb (used without object), var·ied, var·y·ing.

to show diversity; be different: The age at which children are ready to read varies.

to undergo change in appearance, form, substance, character, etc.: The landscape begins to vary as one drives south.

to change periodically or in succession; differ or alternate: Demand for certain products varies with the season.

to diverge; depart; deviate (usually followed by from): to vary from the norm.

Mathematics. to be subject to change.

Biology. to exhibit variation.

OTHER WORDS FOR vary

1 modify, mutate.

See synonyms for vary on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of vary

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English varien, from Latin variāre, equivalent to vari(us) (see various) + -āre infinitive suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM vary

var·i·er, nounvar·y·ing·ly, adverbin·ter·var·y, verb (used without object), in·ter·var·ied, in·ter·var·y·ing.o·ver·var·y, verb, o·ver·var·ied, o·ver·var·y·ing.

self-var·y·ing, adjectiveun·var·y·ing, adjectiveun·var·y·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby vary

varsity, Varsovian, Varuna, varus, varve, vary, varying hare, vas, vasa murrhina, vasana, Vasarely

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use vary in a sentence

And, among those who are troubled, the intensity of the reaction will still vary a lot.
MyPillow boycott: How a product can spark an identity crisis|Elizabeth Chang|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Although it varies depending on the client, Twofivesix tends to focus much more on connecting brands to online gaming communities on Twitch, Reddit and elsewhere.
Why new agencies are trying to capitalize on the online gaming boom|jim cooper|February 12, 2021|Digiday
Figures vary, but less than 10 percent of all the Champagne imported in America is of the grower Champagne variety.
You Should Be Drinking Grower Champagne|Jordan Michelman|February 11, 2021|Eater
Of course, those options vary based on who and where your valentine is.
How to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a pandemic|Sara Kiley Watson|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science

The conference’s memo came weeks before many student-athletes must decide whether to enroll for the spring semester, which varies by school, and risk losing a year of eligibility even if they don’t play.
Ivy League sports were shut down quickly by coronavirus. A restart is proving much slower.|Glynn A. Hill|February 10, 2021|Washington Post
Not surprisingly, rates for recovery vary enormously, from as low as three percent to upwards of 75 percent.
You’re Never ‘Cured’ of an Eating Disorder|Carrie Arnold|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Such waivers vary from state to state, and within the same state there can be many types of waivers.
Medicaid Will Give You Money for At-Home Care, but You Might Wait Years|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My tasks vary from marketing to writing a page for a magazine.
Q&A With Designer Rachel Roy|Cynthia Allum|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Around Liberia, opinions as to whether the epidemic is slowing vary.
The WHO’s Big Asterisk on Liberia’s Ebola Case Decrease|Abby Haglage|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Although reports vary, it seems that most of the thousand or so soldiers at the base may have been captured or killed.
Iraqi Soldiers Bribe Officers So They Don't Have to Fight ISIS|Niqash|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Such are most probably given by the essential oils, which vary in amount in different species of the plant.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
They vary greatly in size, being sometimes so small as to seem mere points of light with medium-power objectives.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
They all contain nuclei, and most of them contain granules which vary in size and staining properties.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Different lots of Wright's fluid vary, and a few preliminary stains should be made with each lot to learn its peculiarities.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Pathologically, red corpuscles vary in size and shape, staining properties, and structure.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for vary

vary

/ (ˈvɛərɪ) /

verb varies, varying or varied

to undergo or cause to undergo change, alteration, or modification in appearance, character, form, attribute, etc

to be different or cause to be different; be subject to change

(tr) to give variety to

(intr foll by from) to differ, as from a convention, standard, etc

(intr) to change in accordance with another variableher mood varies with the weather; pressure varies directly with temperature and inversely with volume

(tr) music to modify (a theme) by the use of variation

Derived forms of vary

varying, adjectivevaryingly, adverb

Word Origin for vary

C14: from Latin variāre, from varius various

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

vary

OTHER WORDS FOR vary

Origin of vary

OTHER WORDS FROM vary

Words nearby vary

Words related to vary

How to use vary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vary

Derived forms of vary

Word Origin for vary