Alternative word for change

How is the word change different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of change are alter, modify, and vary. While all these words mean «to make or become different,» change implies making either an essential difference often amounting to a loss of original identity or a substitution of one thing for another.

When might alter be a better fit than change?

Although the words alter and change have much in common, alter implies a difference in some particular respect without suggesting loss of identity.

When is it sensible to use modify instead of change?

The synonyms modify and change are sometimes interchangeable, but modify suggests a difference that limits, restricts, or adapts to a new purpose.

Where would vary be a reasonable alternative to change?

In some situations, the words vary and change are roughly equivalent. However, vary stresses a breaking away from sameness, duplication, or exact repetition.

What is another word for Change?

• modification, improvement

• shift, make or become different

• banking, change into cash

• adapt, make or become different

Use filters to view other words, we have 3476 synonyms for change.

1       n-var   If there is a changein something, it becomes different.  
usu with supp  
The ambassador appealed for a change in US policy…, What is needed is a change of attitude on the part of architects…, There are going to have to be some drastic changes…, In Zaire political change is on its way…, 1998 was an important year for everyone: a time of change.     
  →
  sea change  

2       n-sing   If you say that something is a change or makes a change, you mean that it is enjoyable because it is different from what you are used to.,   (approval)
   It is a complex system, but it certainly makes a change…, Do you feel like you could do with a change?     

3       verb   If you changefrom one thing to another, you stop using or doing the first one and start using or doing the second.  
His doctor increased the dosage but did not change to a different medication…      V to n  
He changed from voting against to abstaining.      V from -ing/n to  

4       verb   When something changes or when you change it, it becomes different.  
(=alter)  
We are trying to detect and understand how the climates change…      V  
In the union office, the mood gradually changed from resignation to rage…      V from n to n  
She has now changed into a happy, self-confident woman…      V into n  
They should change the law to make it illegal to own replica weapons…      V n  
Trees are changing colour earlier than last year…      V n  
He is a changed man since you left…      V-ed  
A changing world has put pressures on the corporation.      V-ing  

5       verb   To change something means to replace it with something new or different.  
I paid £80 to have my car radio fixed and I bet all they did was change a fuse…      V n  
If you want to change your doctor there are two ways of doing it.      V n  
      Change is also a noun., n-count   oft a N of n  
A change of leadership alone will not be enough.     

6       verb   When you change your clothes or change, you take some or all of your clothes off and put on different ones.  
Ben had merely changed his shirt…      V n  
They had allowed her to shower and change…      V  
I changed into a tracksuit…      V into/out of n  
I’ve got to get changed first. I’ve got to put my uniform on.      get V-ed  

7       n-count   A change of clothes is an extra set of clothes that you take with you when you go to stay somewhere or to take part in an activity.  
N of n  
He stuffed a bag with a few changes of clothing.     

8       verb   When you change a bed or change the sheets, you take off the dirty sheets and put on clean ones.  
After changing the bed, I would fall asleep quickly…      V n  
I changed the sheets on your bed today.      V n  

9       verb   When you change a baby or change its nappy or diaper, you take off the dirty one and put on a clean one.  
She criticizes me for the way I feed or change him…      V n  
He needs his nappy changed.      V-ed  

10       verb   When you change buses, trains, or planes or change, you get off one bus, train, or plane and get on to another in order to continue your journey.  
At Glasgow I changed trains for Greenock…      V n  
We were turned off the train at Hanover, where we had to change.      V  

11       verb   When you change gear or change into another gear, you move the gear lever on a car, bicycle, or other vehicle in order to use a different gear.  
  (BRIT)  
The driver tried to change gear, then swerved…      V n  
He looked up into the mirror as he changed through his gears.      V prep  
in AM, use shift     

12       n-uncount   Your change is the money that you receive when you pay for something with more money than it costs because you do not have exactly the right amount of money.  
`There’s your change.'<emdash10001`Thanks very much.’…, They told the shopkeeper to keep the change.     

13       n-uncount   Change is coins, rather than paper money.  
Thieves ransacked the office, taking a sack of loose change…, The man in the store won’t give him change for the phone unless he buys something.     
  →
  small change  

14       n-uncount   If you have changefor larger notes, bills, or coins, you have the same value in smaller notes, bills, or coins, which you can give to someone in exchange.  
usu N for n  
The courier had change for a £10 note.      If you make change, you give someone smaller notes, bills, or coins, in exchange for the same value of larger ones.  
  (AM)  
♦
make change      phrase  

15       verb   When you change money, you exchange it for the same amount of money in a different currency, or in smaller notes, bills, or coins.  
You can expect to pay the bank a fee of around 1% to 2% every time you change money…      V n  
If you travel frequently, find an agency that will change one foreign currency directly into another.      V n into n  

16    If you say that you are doing something or something is happening for a change, you mean that you do not usually do it or it does not usually happen, and you are happy to be doing it or that it is happening.  
♦
for a change      phrase   PHR with cl  
Now let me ask you a question, for a change…, Liz settled back in her seat, comfortably relaxed, enjoying being driven for a change.     

17   
  →
  to change for the better  
  →
  better  
  →
  to change hands  
  →
  hand  
  →
  a change of heart  
  →
  heart  
  →
  to change your mind  
  →
  mind  
  →
  to change places  
  →
  place  
  →
  to ring the changes  
  →
  ring  
  →
  to change the subject  
  →
  subject  
  →
  to change tack  
  →
  tack  
  →
  to change your tune  
  →
  tune  
  →
  to change for the worse  
  →
  worse   change down      phrasal verb   When you change down, you move the gear lever in the vehicle you are driving in order to use a lower gear.  
  (BRIT)  
Changing down, he turned into the drive…      V P  
I braked at the second corner and changed down to third.      V P to n  
in AM, use shift down      change over      phrasal verb   If you change overfrom one thing to another, you stop doing one thing and start doing the other.  
We are gradually changing over to a completely metric system…      V P from/to n  
The two men swapped places, always extinguishing the light when they changed over.      V P  
  →
  changeover   change up      phrasal verb   When you change up, you move the gear lever in the vehicle you are driving in order to use a higher gear.  
  (BRIT)  
I accelerated and changed up.      V P  
in AM, use shift up     

1       verb   If someone short-changes you, they do not give you enough change after you have bought something from them.  
The cashier made a mistake and short-changed him.      V n  

2       verb   If you are short-changed, you are treated unfairly or dishonestly, often because you are given less of something than you deserve.  
usu passive  
Women are in fact still being short-changed in the press.      be V-ed