change 1 of 2

noun

Definition of changenext
1
as in alteration
the act, process, or result of making different the positive change in our students' attitude toward people who are somehow different was a long and gradual process

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fluctuation
the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another there is nothing so constant as change itself

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in money
something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment she spent quite a chunk of change on that car

Synonyms & Similar Words

change

2 of 2

verb

ˈchānj How to pronounce change (audio)
1
as in to modify
to make different in some way my wife has changed the look of our living room more times than we care to remember

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to vary
to pass from one form, state, or level to another the weather in New England is constantly changing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to exchange
to give up (something) and take something else in return would you mind changing your seat so my friends can sit together?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

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.

changed the shirt for a larger size

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.

slightly altered the original design

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.

modified the building for use by the disabled

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.

vary your daily routine

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of change
Noun
The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. — Big Think, 11 Aug. 2026 Age is not just the reason behind change in football, but also the necessity to refresh and find a new stimulus. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Diversifying the front of the classroom changes what a child believes is possible for their own life. — Sen. Doug McCrory, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 The city around them changed For many years now, Charlotte also has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing destinations for newcomers from around the country. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for change
Recent Examples of Synonyms for change
  1. alteration
  2. fluctuation
  3. money
  4. modify
  5. vary
  6. exchange
  7. difference
  8. oscillation
Noun
  • The judges rejected the administration's national security argument and said the president does not have the authority to make such major alterations to the White House without congressional approval.
    — Nathan Lee, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Some of the deadliest cancers, including many pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers, share a common genetic alteration in a protein called KRAS.
    — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of alteration
Noun
  • And their total hours worked don’t always account for wait times, while fluctuations in user demand can make income unpredictable.
    — Jacob Lederman, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The price fluctuations of digital assets are the most important.
    — K.H. Koehler, Ascend Agency, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of fluctuation
Noun
  • Johnson was not in the team, the money was on the table, and his valuation was probably more likely to go down from there rather than up.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The trend of hospitals asking for money up front represents a double whammy for patients.
    — Julie Appleby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of money
Verb
  • An open-weight model is one whose code is publicly available for anyone to copy or modify.
    — Paulina Likos,Jeff Marks, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This matters because nephrology as a specialty has had very few genuinely disease-modifying options for diabetic kidney disease.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of modify
Verb
  • On Monday, in the early morning, cheerleaders flanked the entrance to the courtyard, cheering and shaking their pom-poms as their classmates filed in, showing varying degrees of enthusiasm.
    — Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Others can be seen still standing but with varying levels of damage.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of vary
Verb
  • German authorities said Russia organized the 2019 killing of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen rebel commander who was shot in a Berlin park by Vadim Krasikov, a hitman who was later greeted by Putin after he was exchanged in a spy swap.
    — Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • German authorities also said Russia organized the 2019 killing of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen rebel commander who was shot in a Berlin park by Vadim Krasikov, a hitman who was later greeted by Putin after he was exchanged in a spy swap.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of exchange
Noun
  • The two started off as enemies as Judy joined the Zootopia Police Department, but then put aside their differences to solve a mystery in the animal city.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026
  • There is a difference in the cases of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, in that the former has been far more involved in some monumental moments.
    — Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • In addition to heart rate, calories burned, distance, duration, elevation, and speed, Samsung smartwatches track advanced running form metrics, including asymmetry, contact time, flight time, regularity, vertical oscillation, and stiffness.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Five months of oscillation between bombing and negotiation have left Trump with no good options.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of oscillation

Phrases Containing change

Browse Nearby Words

chandeliers
change
changeability
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Cite this Entry

“Change.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/change. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on change

Nglish: Translation of change for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about change

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