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vary. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
vary, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
vary in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.
Pronunciation
Verb
vary (third-person singular simple present varies, present participle varying, simple past and past participle varied)
- (transitive) 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.
1695, C[harles] A[lphonse] du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, De Arte Graphica. The Art of Painting, , London: J Heptinstall for W. Rogers, , →OCLC:We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.
- (transitive) 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.
- a. 1687, Edmund Waller, to Phyllis
- Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.
- (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.
1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. , London: J Tonson, , published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 1:While fear and anger, with alternate grace, / Pant in her breast, and vary in her face.
- (of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.
The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.
1960 February, “The modernisation of Peterborough”, in Trains Illustrated, page 108:In the new layout, it is proposed to provide three island platforms with six platform faces varying from 1,075 to 1,290 ft. in length and including bays.
- (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.
- (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
- (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
- (intransitive, obsolete) To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.
1623, John Webster, The Devil's Law Case:the rich jewel which we vary for
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
to change something with time or a similar parameter
to institute a change in
— see modifyto act different from usual
Translations to be checked
Noun
vary (uncountable)
- (obsolete) alteration; change.
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :With euery gall, and varry of their Masters,
Related terms
Further reading
- “vary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “vary”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Anagrams
Czech
Pronunciation
Noun
vary
- nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of var
Malagasy
Etymology
Pronunciation
Noun
vary
- rice ((raw) seeds used as food)