vary

vary

to be different; modify; deviate: Her actions seem to vary from the norm.

Not to be confused with:

very – to a high degree; extremely: a very important matter

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

var·y

 (vâr′ē, văr′ē)

v. var·ied (-ēd), var·y·ing, var·ies (-ēz)

v.intr.

1. To undergo or show change: The temperature varied throughout the day.

2. To deviate from a standard or expectation: behavior that varies from the norm.

3. To have a range of different qualities or amounts: Shirt sizes vary from small to extra large.

v.tr.

1. To make or cause changes in; modify or alter: vary the speed of the drill.

2. To give variety to; make diverse: vary one's diet.

---

[Middle English varien, to undergo change, from Old French varier, from Latin variāre, from varius, various.]

---

var′y·ing·ly adv.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

vary

(ˈvɛərɪ)

vb, varies, varying or varied

1. to undergo or cause to undergo change, alteration, or modification in appearance, character, form, attribute, etc

2. to be different or cause to be different; be subject to change

3. (tr) to give variety to

4. (foll by: from) to differ, as from a convention, standard, etc

5. (intr) to change in accordance with another variable: her mood varies with the weather; pressure varies directly with temperature and inversely with volume.

6. (Music, other) (tr) music to modify (a theme) by the use of variation

[C14: from Latin variāre, from varius various]

ˈvarying adj

ˈvaryingly adv

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

var•y

(ˈvɛər i)

v. var•ied, var•y•ing. v.t.

1. to alter, as in form, appearance, character, or substance; to make different in some way: to vary the program each night.

2. to relieve from uniformity; diversify: to vary one's diet.

3. to alter (a melody or theme) by modification or embellishments.

v.i.

4. to show diversity; differ: Opinions vary.

5. to undergo change, as in appearance or form.

6. to change periodically or in succession: Demand varies with the season.

7. to diverge; deviate: to vary from the norm.

8. to be subject to change, as a mathematical function.

9. to exhibit biological variation.

[1300–50; Middle English < Latin variāre, derivative of varius various]

var′i•er, n.

var′y•ing•ly, adv.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

vary

- From Latin varius, "speckled, variegated; changeable."

See also related terms for variegated.

Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

vary

Past participle: varied
Gerund: varying

Imperative

vary

vary

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	vary - become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence; "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season" alter, change alternate, jump - go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions crackle - to become, or to cause to become, covered with a network of small cracks; "The blazing sun crackled the desert sand" modulate - vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves) avianise, avianize - to modify microorganisms by repeated culture in the developing chick embryo move - go or proceed from one point to another; "the debate moved from family values to the economy" adapt, accommodate - make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose; "Adapt our native cuisine to the available food resources of the new country" widen, let out - make (clothes) larger; "Let out that dress--I gained a lot of weight" take in - make (clothes) smaller; "Please take in this skirt--I've lost weight" branch out, broaden, diversify - vary in order to spread risk or to expand; "The company diversified" diversify, radiate - spread into new habitats and produce variety or variegate; "The plants on this island diversified" specialize, narrow down, narrow, specialise - become more focus on an area of activity or field of study; "She specializes in Near Eastern history" honeycomb - make full of cavities, like a honeycomb break - vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity; "The flat plain was broken by tall mesas"
	2.	vary - be at variance with; be out of line with depart, deviate, diverge aberrate - diverge or deviate from the straight path; produce aberration; "The surfaces of the concave lens may be proportioned so as to aberrate exactly equal to the convex lens" aberrate - diverge from the expected; "The President aberrated from being a perfect gentleman" belie, contradict, negate - be in contradiction with differ - be different; "These two tests differ in only one respect"
	3.	vary - be subject to change in accordance with a variable; "Prices vary"; "His moods vary depending on the weather" co-vary - vary in the same time period (of two random variables) drift - vary or move from a fixed point or course; "stock prices are drifting higher" differ - be different; "These two tests differ in only one respect"
	4.	vary - make something more diverse and varied; "Vary the menu" motley, variegate diversify - make (more) diverse; "diversify a course of study" checker, chequer - variegate with different colors, shades, or patterns

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

vary

verb

1. differ, be different, be dissimilar, disagree, diverge, be unlike As the rugs are all handmade, each one varies slightly.

2. change, shift, swing, transform, alter, fluctuate, oscillate, see-saw women whose moods vary according to their menstrual cycle

3. alternate, mix, diversify, reorder, intermix, bring variety to, permutate, variegate Try to vary your daily diet to include all the major food groups.

4. modify, change, alter, adjust The colour can be varied by adding filters.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

vary

verb

1. To make or become different:

alter, change, modify, mutate, turn.

2. To change or fluctuate within limits:

extend, go, range, run.

3. To be unlike or dissimilar:

differ, disagree, diverge.

Idiom: be at variance.

4. To be of different opinion:

differ, disaccord, disagree, discord, dissent.

Idiom: join issue.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

يَتَنَوَّع، يَخْتَلِفيُغَيِّرُ

lišit serůznitrůznit se

variere

variierenwechseln

κυμαίνομαιποικίλλω

variar

vaihdella

varier

razlikovati se

breyta; vera breytilegur

variarevariatovariodiscordaremutare

変わる

변경하다

įvairuskintamaikintamasis dydiskintamumassvyravimas

atšķirtiesbūt dažādiem

variëren

variere

zmienić

variar

варьироватьменять(ся)

rôzniť sa

razlikovati sevariirati

variera

เปลี่ยนแปลง

çeşitlilik göstermekdeğiş mekfarklı olmak

thay đổi

使变化变化

vary

[ˈvɛərɪ]

A. VT

1. (= make variable) [+ routine, diet] → variar

2. (= change) [+ temperature, speed] → cambiar, modificar

B. VI

1. (= differ) [amounts, sizes, conditions] → variar
prices vary from area to area → los precios varían con la zona
to vary according to sth → variar según or dependiendo de algo
they vary enormously in quality → la calidad varía enormemente
they vary in price → los hay de diversos precios
it varies → depende, según

2. (= be at odds) designs may vary from the illustration on the box → los diseños pueden diferir de la ilustración del paquete
authors vary about the date → los autores discrepan con respecto a la fecha
opinions vary on this point → las opiniones varían en este punto

3. (= change, fluctuate) [weight, temperature, number] → oscilar
my weight varies between 70 and 73 kilos → mi peso oscila entre los 70 y los 73 kilos

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

vary

[ˈvɛəri]

vt [+ routine, diet] → varier

vi

(= differ) → varier
The software varies in price → Le prix du logiciel varie.
to vary slightly → varier légèrement
to vary from sth → se différencier de qch
The text varies from the earlier versions → Le texte se différencie des versions précédentes.

(= change) → varier
to vary from sth to sth → varier d'un qch à l'autre
to vary from person to person → varier d'une personne à l'autre
to vary from area to area → varier d'un endroit à l'autre
The situation varies from area to area → La situation varie d'une zone à l'autre.
The amount of sleep we need varies from person to person → La quantité de sommeil dont nous avons besoin varie d'une personne à l'autre.
to vary with sth → varier avec qch
The colour of the fruit varies with age → La couleur du fruit varie avec l'âge.
to vary according to → varier selon

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

vary

vi

(= diverge, differ) → sich unterscheiden, abweichen (from von); they vary in price from the others → sie unterscheiden sich im Preis von den anderen; opinions vary on this point → in diesem Punkt gehen die Meinungen auseinander; opinions vary about the value → der Wert wird unterschiedlich eingeschätzt

(= be different) → unterschiedlich sein; the price varies from shop to shop → der Preis ist von Geschäft zu Geschäft verschieden; his work varies → seine Arbeit ist sehr unterschiedlich; it varies → es ist unterschiedlich, das ist verschieden

(= change, fluctuate) → sich (ver)ändern; (pressure, prices) → schwanken; prices that vary with the season → saisonbedingte Preise pl; to vary with the weather → sich nach dem Wetter richten

vt (= alter) → verändern, abwandeln; (= give variety) → abwechslungsreich(er) gestalten, variieren; they never vary their diet → sie essen sehr eintönig; try to vary your approach to the problem → Sie sollten das Problem mal von einer anderen Seite angehen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

vary

[ˈvɛərɪ]

1. vt → variare

2. vi

a. (change) to vary (with or according to) → variare (con or a seconda di)

b. (deviate) to vary (from) → discostarsi (da)
the temperature/her mood varies → la temperatura/il suo umore è variabile
these items vary in price → questi articoli si differenziano per il prezzo

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

vary

(ˈveəri) verb

to make, be or become different. These apples vary in size from small to medium. wissel يَتَنَوَّع، يَخْتَلِف варирам variar různit se variieren variere ποικίλλωvariar vaheldama, erinema تغییر یافتن vaihdella varier לִהיוֹת שוֹנֵה तरह तरह का होना varirati, razlikovati se változtat; változik, váltakozik membuat berbeda breyta; vera breytilegur variare 異なる 갖가지(가지각색)이다 skirtis atšķirties; būt dažādiem berbeza-beza variërenvariere, forandre seg, skifte wahać/różnić się variar a varia разниться rôzniť sa, líšiť sa, meniť sa razločevati se varirati variera แตกต่างกันในเรื่อง değişmek, farklı olmak (使)變化 різнитися, відрізнятися تبديل ہونا، تبديل کرنا thay đổi, biến đổi 变化

ˈvariable adjective

1. that may be varied. The machine works at a variable speed. wisselende مُتَنَوِّع، مُخْتَلِف променлив variável měnitelný unterschiedlich variabel μεταβλητόςvariable varieeritav متغییر muuttuva variableמשתנה परिवर्तनशील promjenjiv változtatható bisa diubah breytanlegur, stillanlegur variabile 変えられる 다양한 įvairus, skirtingas, kintamas mainīgs; maināms boleh diubah regelbaarforanderlig, stillbarzmiennyvariável variabil различный meniteľný spremenljiv promenljiv varierande ซึ่งเปลี่ยนแปลงได้ değişebilen, değişik 可變的 змінний, перемінний کئي طرح سے có thể thay đổi/biến đổi 可变的

2. (of eg winds, weather etc) liable or likely to change. British weather is very variable. afwisselend مُتَقَلِّب непостоянен variável proměnlivý unbeständig skiftende άστατος, ευμετάβλητοςvariable, inestable muutlik تغییر پذیر vaihteleva changeantמשתנה परिवर्ती, परिवर्तनीय promjenjiv változékony berubah-ubah breytilegur, óstöðugur variabile 変わりやすい 변화하기 쉬운 nepastovus, permainingas nepastāvīgs; mainīgs berubah-ubah veranderlijkskiftende, vekslendezmiennyvariável vari­abil, schimbător изменчивый premenlivý spremenljiv promenljiv växlande ซึ่งไม่แน่นอน değişken, kararsız 易變的 мінливий, непостійний تغير پذير hay thay đổi 易变的

noun

something that varies, eg in quantity, value, effect etc. Have you taken all the variables into account in your calculations? veranderlike مُتَغَيِّر، كَمِيَّة مُتَغَيِّرَه променлива величина variável možná změna veränderliche Größe, die Variable variabel μεταβλητήvariable muutuja متغییر muuttuja variableמשתנה परिवर्तनशील वस्तु varijabla, promjenjiva vrijednost változó variabel breyta variabile 変数 변하기 쉬운 것 kintamasis dydis mainīgais lielums pembolehubah variabelevariabel zmienna variável vari­a­bilă переменная величина možná zmena spremenljivka promenljiva variabel ตัวแปร değişken nicelik 變化 змінна величина گھٹنے بڑھنے والي چيز biến số 变化

ˈvariably adverb

wisselend بصورَةٍ مُتَغَيِّرَه променливо variavelmente proměnlivě veränderlich variabelt μεταβλητά variablemente varieeruvalt بطور تغییر پذیر muuttuvaisesti variablement בְצוּרָה מִשתַנָה परिवर्तनशीलता के साथ, अस्थायित्व से, अस्थिरतापूर्वक‍‍ promjenjivo változ(tathat)óan secara berubah-ubah breytilega variabilmente 変動して 변덕스럽게 kintamai mainīgi berubah-ubah wisselendskiftende, variabelt zmiennie variavelmente variabil изменчиво premenlivo spremenljivo promenljivo på ett varierande (växlande) sätt อย่างเปลี่ยนแปลง değişerek 可變地 мінливо, непостійно تغير پذيري سے hay thay đổi 可变地

ˌvariaˈbility – plural variaˈbilities – noun

wisselhede تَقَلُّبِيَّه променливост variabilidade proměnlivost die Veränderlichkeit variabilitet μεταβλητότητα variabilidad varieeruvus تغییر پذیری muuttuvuus variabilité טְווַח הַשִׁינוּיִים परिवर्तनशीलता varijabilnost, promjenjivost változékonyság keadaan berubah-ubah breytileiki variabilità 可変性 변하기 쉬움 kintamumas nepastāvīgums; mainīgums keberubahan veranderlijkheidustadighet, omskiftelighet, foranderlighetzmienność variabilidade va­ri­abilitate изменчивость premenlivosť spremenljivost varijabilnost föränderlighet, ombytlighet ความผันแปร değişkenlik, kararsızlık 可變性，易變性，變異性 мінливість, непостійність تغير پذيري sự có thể thay đổi, tính hay thay đổi 可变性，易变性，变异性

ˌvariˈation noun

1. the extent to which a thing changes. In the desert there are great variations in temperature. uiterstes, variasie تَغَيُّر، تَبَدُّل отклонение variação změna die Veränderung variation; svingning μεταβολή, απόκλισηvariación erinevus میزان تغییر vaihtelu variation מִידַת הַשוֹנִי विविधता varijacija, mijenjanje változat variasi (mis)munur, sveifla variazione 変化 변화 svyravimas maiņa; svārstības berubah-ubah variatiesvingning, variasjonzmiana, odchylenievariação variaţie колебание zmena razlika varijacija variation การเปลี่ยนแปลง değişiklik, fark 變化 зміна; коливання فرق sự thay đổi 变化

2. one of a series of musical elaborations made on a basic theme or melody. Brahms' variations on Haydn's `St Anthony's Chorale'. variasie قِطْعَة موسيقيَّة تقوم على لَحْنٍ رئيسي يَتَكَرَّر مع بعْض التنوُّعات вариация variação variace die Variation variation παραλλαγήvariación variatsioon دگرآوایی variaatio variationוריאציה परिवर्तन glazbena varijacija variáció variasi tilbrigði variazione 変奏曲 변주곡 variacija variācija ragaman variatievariasjon wariacja variação vari­a­ţiune вариация variácia variacija varijacija variation เพลงเดียวกันแต่มีท่วงทำนองต่าง ๆ กัน çeşitleme 變奏(曲) варіація زير و بم biến tấu 变奏（曲）

ˈvaried adjective

He has had a very varied career. gevarieer مُتنوِّع променлив (за успех) variado pestrý abwechslungsreich varieret πολυποίκιλος, πολυκύμαντος variado vahelduv متفاوت monipuolinen varié מִסוּגִים שוֹנִים नाना रूप promjenjiv változatos bermacam-macam fjölbreyttur vario; movimentato 変化に富んだ 다양한 įvairus daudzveidīgs; dažāds berbagai-bagai gevarieerdvariert, forskjelligarteturozmaiconyvariado variat разнообразный pestrý pester raznovrstan [om]växlande แตกต่างกัน değişik, türlü türlü 各種不同的 різноманітний مختلف طرح کا đa dạng 各种各样的

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

vary

→ يُغَيِّرُ lišit se variere variieren ποικίλλω variar vaihdella varier razlikovati se variare 変わる 변경하다 variëren variere zmienić variar менять(ся) variera เปลี่ยนแปลง çeşitlilik göstermek thay đổi 变化

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

vary

v. variar, cambiar; cambiarse; desviarse.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

vary

vi (pret & pp -ried) variar, oscilar

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.