vary

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈvɛəɹi/ UK /ˈvɛəɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #18585

Meanings

1

verb
To be different from each other or to change depending on the situation.

Ticket prices vary according to the time of day.
2

verb
To make changes to something so that it is not always the same.

You should vary your diet to stay healthy.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to be different from each... change fluctuate

2 verb · to make changes to... alter

Word family

Forms unvariedvariesvarying

Derived forms ever-varyingtime-varyingvarisomevarisyllabic

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Simplified etymology

Vary entered English in the Middle Ages and derives from Latin varius, meaning “diverse.” It belongs to the same word family as variety, variable, variegated, and various.

Etymology

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

varien Middle English varier Old French variō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# vary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈvɛəɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvɛəɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 18585

## Meanings
1. To be different from each other or to change depending on the situation.
2. To make changes to something so that it is not always the same.

## Examples
- Ticket prices vary according to the time of day.
- You should vary your diet to stay healthy.

## Synonyms
- change

## Derived Forms
- ever-varying
- time-varying
- varisome
- varisyllabic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: varien
- Root: varier
- Root: variō

## Etymology
From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.

## AI Etymology
Vary is from Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various. The historical line also includes Middle English varien, Old French varier, Latin variō. In present-day use, it can mean to be different from each other or to change depending on the situation, or to make changes to something so that it is not always the same. Derived formations include ever-varying, time-varying, varisome, varisyllabic.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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