- pronunciation:
- ver
i
[or]
vae
ri
- features:
- Homophone Note, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
varies, varying, varied |
| definition 1: |
When you vary something, you change it. You make it different from the usual thing.
My mom said she varied the recipe for her pie this time because she thought it was too sweet last time.John varies his walk to school as much as he can. He gets bored if always goes the same way every day.My uncle varies the ending of his favorite joke a little bit every time he tells it.- synonyms:
- alter, change, modify
|
| definition 2: |
When something varies, it changes. It doesn't stay the same.
The bus schedule varies depending on what day of the week it is.It's not always hot here in the summer. The temperature varies.
- synonyms:
- change
- similar words:
- alternate, modify, shift
|
| definition 3: |
When things vary, they are different from each other. If your idea varies from your friend's idea, your two ideas are different.
Lunch varied today. Usually, they serve pizza on Friday, but today they served macaroni and cheese.- synonyms:
- differ
- antonyms:
- conform
- similar words:
- alter, contrast, disagree, drift
|
| related words: |
change, range |
| derivations: |
varying (adj.), varyingly (adv.) |
Some people say the words
vary and
very in exactly the same way, but these two words have different meanings.