Vary definition

vârē, vărē
varied varies varying
See word origin
Frequency:
To undergo or show change.

The temperature varied throughout the day.

verb
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(biol.) To show variation.
verb
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To change with time or a similar parameter.

He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice.

verb
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To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.

You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end.

verb
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(intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.

His mood varies by the hour.

The sine function varies between −1 and 1.

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(music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
verb
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To vary is to change, to cause something to change or to differ in some way from something or someone else.

When you change the order of cards on the table, this is an example of a situation where you vary the order of cards.

When you have blond hair and your sister has brown hair, this is an example of a situation in which your hair colors vary.

verb
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(of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.

The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.

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(intransitive) To be or act different from the usual.

I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5.

verb
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To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
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(obsolete) Alteration; change.

noun
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To give variety to; make diverse.

Vary one's diet.

verb
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1
To change in form, appearance, nature, substance, etc.; alter; modify.
verb
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To make different from one another.
verb
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1
To give variety to; diversify.

To vary one's reading.

verb
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(music) To repeat (a theme or idea) with changes in harmony, rhythm, key, etc.
verb
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To undergo change in any way; become different.
verb
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To be different or diverse; differ.

Varying opinions.

verb
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To deviate, diverge, or depart (from)
verb
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1
To have a range of different qualities or amounts.

Shirt sizes vary from small to extra large.

verb
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To make or cause changes in; modify or alter.

Vary the speed of the drill.

verb
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To deviate from a standard or expectation.

Behavior that varies from the norm.

verb
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2

Origin of vary

  • Middle English varien to undergo change from Old French varier from Latin variāre from varius various

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different"), from varius (“different, various"); see various

    From Wiktionary

Vary Sentence Examples

  • The seams vary in thickness.

  • Opinions vary widely; no one really knows.

  • Even at the same place thunderstorms vary greatly in intensity and duration.

  • The statistics of civil proceedings vary considerably from province to province.

  • These vary in form, but essentially they consist of a stem of porcelain, coarse earthenware, glass or other non-conducting substance, protected by an overhanging roof or screen.

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Words near vary in the Dictionary