INDEX:
to become different
1. to become different
2. to change all the time or often
3. often changing or likely to change
4. someone who has changed completely
to make something different
5. to change something or someone
6. to make something completely different
7. to change something for a particular use or purpose
8. to make small changes to something in order to improve it
9. to change the way something is done or organized
10. to change facts or information in a dishonest way
11. easy to change
to change something you have for another one
12. to change what you do or use
13. to keep changing from one thing to another
14. to change your clothes
15. to change from one vehicle to another during a journey
a change
16. when things change
17. a change made in order to improve something
18. a small change that is made to improve or correct something
19. a change made in order to use something for another purpose
20. a change from one thing to another
21. a gradual change from one thing to another
not changing
22. not changing and always the same
23. difficult or impossible to change
to change/not change your plans, opinions, or decisions
24. to change your decisions, intentions, or plans
25. to change your opinion or belief about something
26. to keep changing your mind
27. willing to change the way you do something
28. to refuse to change your mind
29. unwilling to accept changes or new ideas
30. unwilling to change the way you do things
31. when something that has been decided cannot be changed
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ DEVELOP
↑ IMPROVE
↑ BECOME
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1. to become different
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [intransitive verb]
▪ She’s changed a lot since she went to college.
▪ It’s amazing how much things have changed since we were young.
▪ Her expression did not change, and she answered me calmly.
▪ ‘The telecommunications industry is changing at lightning speed,’ said Richard Miller, the company’s chief financial officer.
change into
▪ The caterpillar eventually changes into a beautiful butterfly.
change from something to/into something
▪ In the 18th century, Britain changed from a mainly agricultural society to an industrial one.
change to
▪ The lights changed to green, and the motorbike sped off.
change colour British change color American
▪ It was the end of September, and the leaves on the trees were starting to change color.
change out of all recognition
change completely
▪ The town I grew up in has changed out of all recognition.
▷ changing /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ [adjective]
becoming different :
▪ I find it hard to keep up with changing fashions.
▪ His book is concerned with the changing role of fathers.
▪ Ansel Adams loved wide landscapes and changing light.
constantly/rapidly changing
▪ Businesses need to be flexible enough to adapt to changing conditions in a rapidly changing world.
fast-changing/ever-changing
changing quickly or frequently
▪ Job insecurity is widespread in the fast-changing American workplace.
▷ alter /ˈɔːltəʳ/ [intransitive verb]
to change - use this especially about someone’s feelings or behaviour, or about a situation :
▪ His mood suddenly altered and he seemed a little annoyed.
▪ His defence lawyer said that Wilson’s lifestyle had altered dramatically since the offences three years ago.
▪ Her face hadn’t altered much over the years.
▷ turn into something /ˈtɜːʳn ɪntə something/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to become something completely different :
▪ In fairy tales when the princess kisses a frog, it turns into a handsome prince.
▪ A trip to the beach turned into a nightmare for a local family yesterday.
▷ turn cold/nasty/violent etc /ˌtɜːʳn ˈkəʊld/ [verb phrase]
to suddenly become cold, unpleasant etc :
▪ The ink-black nights were turning cold, and the stars were frosty and fewer.
▪ The protest turned violent when groups of demonstrators stormed the parliament building.
▷ go from ... to ... /ˈgəʊ frɒm ... tuː .../ [verb phrase] especially spoken
to stop being one thing and start being something else, especially something very different :
▪ In less than five years, he went from being a communist to being a member of the military government.
▪ His face went from pink to bright red.
▪ The Mexican economy went from boom to bust very quickly, with disastrous results for the people.
go from bad to worse
change from being bad to being even worse
▪ After Kathy lost her job, things went from bad to worse, and eventually she and Ed split up.
2. to change all the time or often
▷ keep changing /kiːp ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ [verb phrase not in progressive] especially spoken :
▪ His ideas about what he wants keep changing.
▪ I’ll check the regulations for you - they keep changing.
▪ The police strongly suspected that she had been involved - her story kept changing and was filled with inconsistencies.
▷ vary /ˈve ə ri/ [intransitive verb]
to change often
if something varies, it changes according to what the situation is :
▪ Ticket prices to New York vary, depending on the time of year.
vary from....to
▪ Driving regulations vary from state to state.
vary considerably/enormously/greatly
change a lot
▪ Her income varies considerably from one month to the next.
vary in price/quality/size etc
▪ Vegetables vary in quality according to the season.
it varies
▪ ‘How much milk do you use a day?’ ‘Oh, it varies.’
vary from day to day/week to week etc
▪ It hadn’t been established where we’d all sleep - the location seemed to vary from night to night.
▷ fluctuate /ˈflʌktʃueɪt/ [intransitive verb]
if something such as a price or amount fluctuates, it changes very often from a high level to a low one and back again :
▪ The car industry’s annual production fluctuates between 5.1 million and 9.2 million vehicles.
▪ Cholesterol levels in the blood fluctuate in the course of a day.
fluctuate wildly
▪ Share prices on the New York Stock Exchange often fluctuate wildly.
fluctuating [adjective]
▪ Your savings will earn fluctuating rates of interest.
fluctuation /ˌflʌktʃuˈeɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
▪ Is there any way of avoiding fluctuations in coffee and tea prices?
▷ be in flux/be in a state of flux /biː ɪn ˈflʌks, biː ɪn ə ˌsteɪt əv ˈflʌks/ [verb phrase]
if something such as a system or a set of ideas is in flux or in a state of flux, it is changing a lot all the time, especially in a confusing way, so that you do not know what it will finally be like :
▪ The computer industry is in constant flux, responding all the time to changes in technology.
▪ Our education programme is in a state of flux, as new approaches are being developed.
3. often changing or likely to change
▷ changeable /ˈtʃeɪndʒəb ə l/ [adjective]
feelings or conditions that are changeable change frequently so that it is difficult to know what they will be like in a short time :
▪ You love him now, but at your age feelings are changeable.
▪ I’m a changeable sort of person.
▪ changeable weather
▷ erratic /ɪˈrætɪk/ [adjective]
behaviour, processes, or services that are erratic change suddenly in an unexpected and surprising way, when it would be better if they remained the same :
▪ Her behaviour was becoming more and more erratic.
▪ Heating was difficult owing to erratic supplies of gas, electricity and water.
▪ The company’s erratic performance is a cause for some concern.
erratically [adverb]
▪ My car has been performing very erratically - some days it’s fine and other days it won’t even start.
▷ volatile /ˈvɒlətaɪlǁˈvɑːlətl/ [adjective]
a volatile situation or character is likely to change suddenly and unexpectedly :
▪ The political situation in the Balkans is still extremely volatile.
▪ She formed enduring friendships with women and more intense, volatile ones with men.
▷ unstable /ʌnˈsteɪb ə l/ [adjective]
a person, situation, or system or government that is unstable is likely to change suddenly and become worse, because there is something wrong with their character or the way things are organized :
▪ Regimes governed by violence are always unstable.
▪ Was it safe to trust someone who was so emotionally unstable?
instability /ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪti, ˌɪnstəˈbɪləti/ [uncountable noun]
▪ The area is going through a period of instability and social crisis.
▪ Government policies have resulted in higher inflation and financial instability.
▷ variable /ˈve ə riəb ə l/ [adjective]
changing according to the situation - use this about amounts, prices, speeds, temperatures etc :
▪ Demand for the company’s products is variable.
▪ The weather here is likely to be very variable.
▷ inconsistent /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/ [adjective]
inconsistent behaviour or work changes too often from good to bad, and you cannot trust it to be good all the time :
▪ People feel threatened when decision-making is inconsistent and arbitrary.
▪ A succession of injuries produced an inconsistent season for one of our best players.
inconsistency [uncountable noun]
▪ The inconsistency of her work makes a really good result unlikely.
▷ unsettled /ʌnˈsetld/ [adjective]
conditions or situations that are unsettled change frequently so that it is impossible to make plans or know what will happen :
▪ It is dangerous to visit there while the political situation is so unsettled.
▪ The weather has been very unsettled lately.
▪ Eliot led a strangely unsettled life, drifting from place to place and job to job.
4. someone who has changed completely
▷ a changed man/woman /ə ˌtʃeɪndʒd ˈmæn, ˈwʊmən/ [noun phrase]
use this to say that someone has changed a lot from what they were like before because of an important or powerful experience :
▪ My father came back from the war a changed man.
▪ She returned from her travel a changed woman.
▷ reformed /rɪˈfɔːʳmd/ [adjective]
someone who is reformed has completely changed their behaviour and stopped doing things that other people disapprove of, for example stealing or drinking too much :
▪ Since the birth of his baby, Mark has totally reformed.
▪ Al Pacino plays a reformed crook who gets pulled back into a life of crime.
5. to change something or someone
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [transitive verb]
to make someone or something different :
▪ They’ve changed the timetable, and now there’s only one bus an hour.
▪ Going to college changed him a lot. It made him much more mature.
▪ Having a baby changes your life completely, whatever your age.
▷ alter /ˈɔːltəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to change something so that it is better or more suitable :
▪ You can alter the color and size of the image using a remote control.
▪ The border was closed, and they were forced to alter their plans.
▷ make changes /ˌmeɪk ˈtʃeɪndʒə̇z/ [verb phrase]
to change some parts of a system or the way something is done, but not all of it :
▪ Don’t make any major changes yet.
▪ I’ve analysed the system and made changes where I thought they were needed.
make changes to/in
▪ You’ll have to make some changes in your life - stop smoking and eating fatty food, and stop working so hard.
▪ The manufacturer has agreed to make one or two changes to the computer’s design.
▷ revise /rɪˈvaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to change an idea or plan because of new information :
▪ This discovery made them revise their old ideas.
▪ You should review and revise the plan in the light of events as they unfold.
▪ By the time the President arrived at Keflavik, the revised speech was ready.
6. to make something completely different
▷ transform /trænsˈfɔːʳm/ [transitive verb usually in passive]
to completely change something, especially so that it is much better :
▪ Well, you’ve certainly transformed this place - it looks great!
transform something into something
▪ In the last 20 years, Korea has been transformed into a major industrial nation.
totally/completely transform
▪ When she smiled, her face was completely transformed.
▷ turn something/somebody into /ˈtɜːʳn something/somebody ɪntuː/ [verb phrase]
to make something become a completely different thing or make someone become a completely different kind of person :
▪ We’re planning to turn the spare bedroom into a study.
▪ The war had turned Cassidy into a violent thug.
▪ Edwards saved the Tivoli, an elegant 1920s art deco hotel, and turned it into a movie theatre.
▷ revolutionize also revolutionise British /ˌrevəˈluːʃənaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to completely and permanently change the way people do something or think about something, especially because of a new idea or invention :
▪ Computers have revolutionized the way we work.
▪ This important discovery has revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
▪ The new technology is revolutionising the way music is played, composed and studied.
▷ reverse /rɪˈvɜːʳs/ [transitive verb]
to change a process or decision so that it is the opposite of what it was before :
▪ The longer the economic decline is allowed to go on the more difficult it will be to reverse it.
▪ Cities are expanding and using up more and more of the desert. Our aim is to reverse this trend and to protect our open spaces.
▪ The court of appeal reversed the original verdict and set the prisoner free.
▪ Many of the former administration’s policies were reversed by the new president.
▷ overturn /ˌəʊvəʳˈtɜːʳn/ [transitive verb]
to change a previous official decision or order so that it is the opposite of what it was before or so that it can no longer have its original effect :
▪ The execution ended a 14-year battle to have Bannister’s death sentence overturned.
▪ Wolf was found guilty of treason, but the conviction was overturned by Germany’s highest court in 1995.
7. to change something for a particular use or purpose
▷ adapt /əˈdæpt/ [transitive verb]
to change something so that it can be used in a different way :
▪ They have adapted their house so they can look after their disabled son more easily.
▪ The movie was adapted by Forsyth from his own bestselling novel.
adapt for
▪ The materials in the book can be adapted for use with older children.
adapt something to do something
▪ These recipes can be easily adapted to suit vegetarians.
▷ modify /ˈmɒdɪfaɪ, ˈmɒdəfaɪǁˈmɑː-/ [transitive verb]
to make small changes to something such as a piece of equipment, a set of ideas, or a way of behaving in order to improve it or to make it more suitable for a particular purpose :
▪ We can modify the design to make it suitable for commercial production.
▪ We all modify our speech when speaking to people in authority.
genetically modify
change the genes of plants or animals
▪ The biotech corporations argue that genetically modified crops will put an end to food shortages in the developing world.
▷ convert /kənˈvɜːʳt/ [transitive verb]
to change something completely so that it has a different form and can be used for a different purpose :
▪ We’ve converted the basement to give the children more room to play.
convert something into something
▪ A Swiss company has found a way to convert animal waste into fuel.
▪ This computer system converts typed words into speech.
converted [adjective]
▪ The nightclub is in a converted church.
▷ customize also customise British /ˈkʌstəmaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to change something, such as a car or a piece of equipment, to suit a particular person or group of people :
▪ General Motors will customize Cadillacs for special clients.
▪ The computer programs can be customised for individual users.
▪ customized software
8. to make small changes to something in order to improve it
▷ adjust /əˈdʒʌst/ [transitive verb]
to make small changes in the position or level of something in order to improve it or make it more suitable :
▪ Check and adjust your brakes regularly.
▪ I don’t think the color control on this TV is properly adjusted.
▪ The amount of any of these ingredients can be adjusted according to your taste.
▪ ‘You don’t have to come,’ Lewis said, as he adjusted his tie in a mirror.
▷ make adjustments /ˌmeɪk əˈdʒʌstmənts/ [verb phrase]
to make small changes to something such as a machine, a system, or the way something looks :
▪ You can use this tool to make adjustments in all kinds of machines.
make adjustments to
▪ Scientists were able to locate the star by making a few minor adjustments to their original calculations.
▷ amend /əˈmend/ [transitive verb]
to make small changes to something written, for example a law or legal agreement :
▪ Programs written in languages such as BASIC are very easy to edit and amend.
amend a bill/rule/law/act etc
▪ Congress amended the Social Security Act in 1967 to help the disabled.
▪ The law was amended so that profits from drug dealing could be seized by the government.
amend the Constitution
▪ To amend the Constitution voters must approve the measure in a referendum.
▷ revise /rɪˈvaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to check a piece of writing from beginning to end and make any changes that are necessary to improve it :
▪ He gave his work to his friend to revise, because he found it hard to see his own mistakes.
▪ The publisher will not accept your manuscript until it has been thoroughly revised.
revised [adjective]
▪ a revised edition of the novel
9. to change the way something is done or organized
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [transitive verb]
▪ The government is considering changing the local voting system.
▪ Agriculture must be changed to reduce damage to the environment.
▷ reorganize also reorganise British /riːˈɔːʳgənaɪz/ [transitive verb]
to change the way that a system or organization works :
▪ During the 1980s, the government reorganized the civil service.
▪ The proposals for reorganizing the company have made many people in the workforce feel very insecure.
▷ restructure /ˌriːˈstrʌktʃəʳ/ [transitive verb]
to completely change the way something is organized, especially a large political or economic system or a big company, in order to make it more effective :
▪ Mr Gorbachev’s attempt to restructure the Soviet economy met with criticism from traditional communists.
▪ In the coming years a lot of money will go into restructuring the education system.
▷ reform /rɪˈfɔːʳm/ [transitive verb]
to change a law, system, or organization, so that it is fairer or more effective :
▪ They reformed the voting system, and introduced a secret ballot.
▪ We are working to reform the nation’s prisons.
10. to change facts or information in a dishonest way
▷ twist /twɪst/ [transitive verb]
to dishonestly change the meaning of a piece of information or of something that someone has said, in order to get some advantage for yourself or to support your own opinion :
▪ The lawyers twisted everything I said to make it look as if I was guilty.
▪ Every time I try to talk to him about it, he just twists everything I say.
▪ Write very clearly so that no one can twist your meaning.
▷ misrepresent /ˌmɪsreprɪˈzent/ [transitive verb]
to give people a wrong idea about someone or their opinions, by what you write or say :
▪ Your reporter has completely misrepresented my opinions about immigration.
▪ Many women feel that the history books either ignore or misrepresent them.
▷ distort /dɪˈstɔːʳt/ [transitive verb]
to explain facts, statements etc in a way that makes them seem different from what they really are :
▪ Newspaper readers are usually given a simplified and often distorted version of events.
▪ These incidents were grossly distorted by police witnesses.
distort the truth/the facts
▪ Journalists were accused of sensationalizing the story and distorting the facts.
▷ falsify /ˈfɔːlsɪfaɪ, ˈfɔːlsəfaɪ/ [transitive verb]
to dishonestly change official documents or records so that they contain false information :
▪ She falsified her birth certificate to get the job.
▪ A whole team was kept busy falsifying official government records.
▪ Their accounts had been falsified over a long period of time
▷ put words into somebody’s mouth /pʊt ˌwɜːʳdz ɪntə somebodyˈs ˈmaʊθ/ [verb phrase]
to pretend that you think someone has said something that is not what they actually said or meant :
▪ I didn’t mean that at all -- you’re just putting words into my mouth!
▪ You’re putting words into her mouth. You don’t know what she thinks.
▷ cook the books /ˌkʊk ðə ˈbʊks/ [verb phrase] informal
to dishonestly change a company’s financial records, in order to steal money :
▪ We’ve just found out Alec’s been cooking the books.
▪ The directors of the company made millions from cooking the books before the fraud investigators caught them.
▷ rewrite history /riːˌraɪt ˈhɪst ə ri/ [verb phrase]
if a government, film company etc rewrites history, it deceives people by pretending that particular historical events did not really happen or that they happened differently :
▪ Hollywood has been accused of rewriting history, by once again denying the role played by African Americans.
11. easy to change
▷ flexible /ˈfleksɪb ə l, ˈfleksəb ə l/ [adjective]
methods, systems, or rules that are flexible can easily be changed if necessary :
▪ We need a flexible management system, able to meet the changing needs of our customers.
▪ Unions would like more flexible working hours to replace the nine-to-five, forty-hour week.
▪ The rules are deliberately left flexible as each case is different.
▷ adaptable /əˈdæptəb ə l/ [adjective]
a system or way of doing something that is adaptable can be changed so that it is suitable for very different uses and very different situations :
▪ In this job you need to be adaptable and able to cope with unexpected situations.
highly adaptable
very adaptable
▪ Young children are highly adaptable -- I’m sure they won’t mind moving to a different area.
adaptability /əˌdæptəˈbɪlɪti, əˌdæptəˈbɪləti/ [uncountable noun]
▪ All the recent changes had tested the limits of her adaptability.
12. to change what you do or use
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to change from one thing to another so that you have something different from what you had before :
▪ They’ve changed their phone number.
▪ We had to change the tyre because we had a flat.
change to
▪ Japanese industry is changing to alternative marketing techniques.
change from something to something
▪ We’ve changed from traditional ways of working to an automated system.
change jobs/cars etc
move from one to another
▪ Women have to be ambitious and willing to change jobs frequently if they want to get to the top of their profession.
change direction/course
start moving in a new direction
▪ I tried to follow him but he kept changing direction.
change channels
change from one programme on television to another
▪ If you don’t like the programme you can always change channels.
▷ switch /swɪtʃ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to change, especially suddenly, from one thing to another :
switch to
▪ I used to play golf but I switched to tennis to get more exercise.
▪ It took a long time for Americans to switch to smaller cars.
switch from something to something
▪ He switched easily and fluently from speaking English to French to German.
▷ move /muːv/ [intransitive verb]
to change, especially gradually, from one thing to another :
move from
▪ The book follows the life of Ann Pollock, as she moves from the optimism of young love, through the disastrous years of World War II.
move from something to something
▪ The bank has moved from private client work to banking for large corporations.
move away from something
▪ Many socialists were moving away from faith in revolution towards a fight for reform.
▷ transfer /trænsˈfɜːʳ/ [transitive verb]
transfer your affection/allegiance/support etc
to change from loving or supporting one person, group etc to loving or supporting another :
transfer to
▪ The generals are transferring their allegiance to their new leader.
▪ Fed up with the disastrous performances of the team he’d been watching for years, he transferred his support to their rivals.
▷ go over to /ˌgəʊ ˈəʊvəʳ tuː/ [transitive phrasal verb not in passive]
to change from one system to a new one, especially a more modern one :
▪ Britain went over to decimal currency in 1971.
▪ The factory is going over to computerised machinery and many workers are losing their jobs.
▷ convert to /kənˈvɜːʳt tuː/ [verb phrase]
to change to a different religion :
▪ In 1976 he converted to Islam.
▪ Large numbers of people are converting to Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism.
13. to keep changing from one thing to another
▷ alternate /ˈɔːltəʳneɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to change repeatedly from one thing or condition to a different one and back again :
alternate between something and something
▪ His mother would alternate inexplicably between kindness and cruelty.
▪ The guide explained the situation, alternating between Spanish and German.
alternate with
▪ He has periods of depression, which alternate with frenzied activity.
alternate something with something
▪ Leroy alternated aerobic exercises with weight training to improve his stamina.
▷ vary /ˈve ə ri/ [transitive verb]
to regularly change what you do or the way you do it so that you are more effective or do not become bored :
▪ Teachers can keep students’ interest by varying their classes.
▪ One of Dickens’ great skills as a writer is the way he varies his style.
▪ If you’re bored with the trip to work, try varying your route.
▷ rotate /rəʊˈteɪtǁˈrəʊteɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
if people rotate, they each do something such as a piece of work once, then another person does it, then another, and then the first person again :
▪ We rotate -- I teach French grammar one week, and she teaches it the next.
rotate a job/task etc
▪ We usually rotate the worst jobs so that no one gets stuck with them.
▷ chop and change /ˌtʃɒp ən ˈtʃeɪndʒǁˌtʃɑːp-/ [verb phrase] British informal
to keep changing from one thing to another, in a way that annoys people :
▪ Don’t chop and change from one style to another. It confuses the reader.
▪ I wish they wouldn’t keep chopping and changing. There’s a different team on the field every week.
14. to change your clothes
▷ get changed /get ˈtʃeɪndʒd/ [verb phrase]
to take off your clothes and put on different clothes :
▪ The first thing I do when I get home from school is get changed.
▪ Are you going to get changed before the party?
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to take off all or some of your clothes and put some different clothes on :
▪ I’ll just change my shirt and I’ll be with you in a minute.
▪ ‘Have you got your bathing suit on?’ ‘No, I’ll change when we get there.’
change into
▪ She changed into a sweater and some jeans.
15. to change from one vehicle to another during a journey
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [intransitive/transitive verb]
to get out of one train, bus, or plane and get into another in order to complete your journey :
▪ Is this a direct flight or do we have to change?
▪ Passengers for York change at Leeds.
change trains/planes/buses etc
▪ We stopped at Los Angeles, just to change planes.
▷ transfer /trænsˈfɜːʳ/ [intransitive verb]
to change from one vehicle to another, as part of a journey, especially when all the other people in the vehicle do the same :
▪ I must have lost my luggage when we transferred.
transfer from/to
▪ The train broke down so we transferred to a bus.
16. when things change
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [countable/uncountable noun]
▪ There have been so many changes around here lately that I’m not sure what’s happening any more.
▪ A lot of people are frightened of change.
change in
▪ There was a sudden change in the weather.
▪ House plants are often sensitive to changes in temperature.
▪ The delay was the result of a change in the way that we administer the grants.
social/economic/political etc change
▪ 1989 was a year of great political change in eastern Europe.
big change/major change
▪ There have been big changes in the way languages are taught in schools.
a change for the better/worse
▪ For most ordinary workers, the new tax laws represent a change for the worse.
▷ alteration /ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a change in something, especially one that has happened gradually or naturally :
▪ The relationship between the United States and China has altered in recent years.
alteration in
▪ She noticed the alteration in his looks and manner.
▪ Max walked past her, without acknowledging her presence by the slightest alteration in his expression.
▷ turnaround also turnround British /ˈtɜːʳnəˌraʊnd, ˈtɜːʳnraʊnd/ [countable noun usually singular]
a complete change from a bad economic situation to a good one, or a change from failing to succeeding :
▪ BRITCON’s turnround has been achieved by drastic reductions in manpower.
▪ The team’s dramatic turnaround is attributed to their new coach Bill Snyder.
turnaround in
▪ The expected turnaround in the beer industry has, for various reasons, not yet occurred.
▷ upheaval /ʌpˈhiːv ə l/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a big change in your life or in the way things are organized, especially when this causes problems and anxiety :
▪ Moving to a different school can be a big upheaval for young children.
political/social/economic etc upheaval
▪ The company managed to survive the economic upheavals of the last 20 years.
emotional upheaval
▪ Changing jobs can be an exciting challenge, but it can also be a time of great emotional upheaval.
▷ revolution /ˌrevəˈluːʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a complete change in the way of doing things or thinking, because of new ideas or methods :
▪ They argue that our schools are failing our children, and that the education system needs a revolution.
revolution in
▪ Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scientific thinking.
scientific/technological/social etc revolution
▪ The 1970s saw the beginnings of a new technological revolution, based on microelectronics.
▷ transformation /ˌtrænsfəʳˈmeɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun usually singular]
a complete change in something or someone, especially so that there is a great improvement :
transformation of
▪ The transformation of the Inner Harbor included new office buildings, and a marketplace of small shops and food stalls.
transformation from something to something
▪ Her friends and neighbors watched her transformation from shy local girl to famous movie actress.
transformation in
▪ The last great overall transformation in American business took place between 1890 and 1910, when the modern corporation was forged.
transformation into
▪ Today, spruced-up Times Square is in the midst of a surprising transformation into a family-oriented entertainment center.
undergo a transformation
▪ It is rare for a person to undergo a dramatic transformation in his political thinking, but it does happen.
17. a change made in order to improve something
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [countable noun]
▪ We need some changes if we are going to make this company successful.
▪ I can’t get used to all these changes.
change to
▪ He hates all changes to his routine.
▪ The computers will record any changes to the system.
change in
▪ We are working to bring about changes in the laws concerning the rights of children.
make a change
▪ The producer wants to make some changes to the script before we get the director on board.
big/major change
▪ Labor Secretary Lynn Martin recommended major changes in the management operations of the company.
▷ alteration /ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
a change made to something, especially a small change which makes it different but not completely different :
▪ I’ve sent the suit to a tailor for alterations.
alteration to
▪ We’re having some alterations made to our house.
minor alterations
small changes
▪ Your essay looks fine -- I’ve suggested one or two minor alterations here and there in the margin.
▷ reform /rɪˈfɔːʳm/ [countable noun]
a change made to a system, especially a political system, in order to improve it or make it more fair :
▪ Feminists sought legal reforms to ensure that women had genuinely equal opportunities.
economic/educational/welfare etc reform
▪ The Socialists have promised a programme of radical political and economic reform.
reform in
▪ Reforms in agriculture, although slow, are beginning to have an impact.
reform of
▪ the reform of local government
radical reform
▪ The revival in the island’s economy has come about because of radical reforms introduced over the past three years.
▷ revision /rɪˈvɪʒ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the process of changing something, especially a piece of writing, by correcting it or including new information :
▪ I’ve written the article, but it needs a lot of revision.
▪ The book went through several revisions before the publisher was finally satisfied with it.
revision of/to
▪ These amendments constitute the most significant revision of U.S. asylum law since the Refugee Act of 1980.
▷ shake-up /ˈʃeɪk ʌp/ [countable noun]
a situation in which a lot of changes are very quickly made in a system, company, or organization in order to make it more effective :
▪ The department has not performed well and is badly in need of a shake-up.
shake-up of
▪ The Administration is planning a thorough shake-up of the welfare system.
▷ reorganization /riːˌɔːʳgənaɪˈzeɪʃ ə n ǁ-gənə-/ [uncountable noun]
a complete change in the way a system or a group of people is organized :
▪ The company is bringing in a team of consultants to oversee the reorganization.
reorganization of
▪ Next came the total reorganization of the Mexican Attorney General’s Office.
18. a small change that is made to improve or correct something
▷ modification /ˌmɒdɪfəˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌmɒdəfəˈkeɪʃ ə nǁˌmɑː-/ [countable noun]
a small change made to something in order to improve it or to make it more suitable for a particular purpose :
▪ The new modifications made it the finest of aircraft.
modification to
▪ The editor suggested a few modifications to the text.
▪ We need to make some modifications to our teaching program.
▷ amendment /əˈmendmənt/ [countable noun]
a change to a law or rule in order to improve it :
▪ Congress passed an amendment ensuring that the law was fairer to everyone.
amendment to
▪ The committee proposed some amendments to the rules.
▷ adjustment /əˈdʒʌstmənt/ [countable noun]
a small change made to something such as a machine, a system. or the way something looks :
make adjustments to something
▪ The room was full of dancers, all making last-minute adjustments to their costumes.
▪ We’ve had to make some adjustments to our original calculations.
slight/minor adjustments
▪ I’ve made a few very minor adjustments to the decor, but in general it was excellent.
19. a change made in order to use something for another purpose
▷ conversion /kənˈvɜːʳʃ ə nǁ-ʒ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
the process of changing something from one form or system to another one so that it can be used for a different purpose :
conversion into
▪ The company buys raw material such as wool for conversion into cloth.
conversion of
▪ Local people are protesting about the proposed conversion of a church into a late-night bar.
▷ adaptation /ˌædæpˈteɪʃ ə n/ [uncountable noun]
the process of changing something in particular ways so that it can be used for a different purpose :
adaptation of
▪ She was responsible for the adaptation of the book ‘The Witches of Eastwick’ into a stage play.
20. a change from one thing to another
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [countable noun]
▪ After a number of career changes, she settled into a job with a major bank.
change of
▪ The police must be notified of any change of address.
▪ There are even more broken promises with every change of government.
change to
▪ If you are thinking about a change to a different part of the country you will need to use your vacation to look for accommodation.
change from something to something
▪ French people were asked how they felt about the change from the franc to the Euro.
▷ switch /swɪtʃ/ [countable noun]
a complete, and usually sudden, change from one thing to another :
switch to
▪ A switch to completly different new foods may cause stomach upsets.
switch from something to something
▪ The switch from political activity to family life was hard to handle.
switch of
▪ His sudden switches of mood are difficult to deal with.
▷ move /muːv/ [countable noun]
a change from one job or type of work to another :
▪ Let’s face it -- going from an academic life to the world of business is never an easy move.
move to
▪ It’s probably time to think about a move to a new job.
▪ This picture marks the move to the big screen of some of our best television comedians.
▷ reversal /rɪˈvɜːʳs ə l/ [countable noun usually singular]
a change to an opposite process or effect :
▪ The profits of supermarkets declined until 1975 when a reversal began.
reversal of
▪ This appears to be a complete reversal of government policy.
▪ The Second World War saw a dramatic reversal of traditional attitudes towards women.
reversal
▷ U-turn /ˈjuː tɜːʳn/ [countable noun]
a complete change in the plans of a government or political party so that it decides to do the opposite of what it originally said it would do :
▪ The party lost all public support after a series of U-turns and policy failures.
do a U-turn
▪ The government was forced to do a U-turn after angry protests about their taxation policy.
21. a gradual change from one thing to another
▷ transition /trænˈzɪʃ ə n, -ˈsɪ-/ [countable/uncountable noun]
the process of change, especially gradual change, from one state or situation to another :
transition from something to something
▪ The transition from a communist system to a free market economy will be difficult.
transition to
▪ It’s difficult for someone who’s been a stage actor to make the transition to television.
make a transition
▪ a scheme to help families making the transition from welfare to work
be in transition
be changing at the moment
▪ The textile industry is currently in transition.
transition period
▪ The new system will be introduced gradually over a six month transition period.
▷ shift /ʃɪft/ [countable noun]
a gradual but important change in the way people think about something :
shift in attitude/approach/policy etc
▪ There has been a big shift in attitudes towards sex during the past 50 years.
marked shift
a very clear shift
▪ We’ve seen a marked shift in our approach to the social issues.
shift away from
▪ The new emphasis on human rights was a shift away from the policies of Nixon.
shift towards
▪ He is very worried about the shift towards free market thinking in Eastern Europe.
▷ trend /trend/ [countable noun]
a general change in the way people think or behave, especially one that is happening at the moment :
▪ If present trends continue, the earth will be considerably warmer in fifty years.
▪ Our managers are very alert to new trends in the industry.
trend towards
▪ There is a growing trend towards payment by credit card.
▪ The current trend in this area is towards part-time employment.
▷ move /muːv/ [countable noun]
the gradual change of a country or society towards something different :
move towards/to
▪ There is a move towards greater equality for women in the workplace.
▪ Planners hope to encourage the move towards increased use of public transport.
▪ The United Nations was supposed to supervise the move to independence.
move away from
▪ Public sector unions are likely to oppose Blair’s move away from government investment in health and transport.
▷ movement /ˈmuːvmənt/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a gradual change, especially a political or social change, in which a lot of people are involved :
movement towards
▪ There is a gradual movement towards tolerance and understanding.
▪ The modern age of movement towards democracy began with the French Revolution in 1789.
22. not changing and always the same
▷ constant /ˈkɒnstəntǁˈkɑːn-/ [adjective]
use this about an amount or level that remains the same over a long period :
▪ We live next door to a busy street and there is always a constant level of noise in the background.
remain/stay constant
▪ Unemployment is likely to remain more or less constant for the next two years.
▷ steady /ˈstedi/ [adjective]
use this about an amount that remains the same or a process that continues in the same way over a long period, especially when this is a good thing :
▪ We drove all day at a steady 65 miles an hour.
▪ It’s important to keep the temperature of the oven at a steady high heat.
a steady increase/decrease/decline etc
▪ The study also notes a steady decline in the number of college students taking science courses.
steady growth/progress
▪ Economists say they expect continued steady growth throughout the year.
at a steady rate
▪ Larger families were being rehoused at a steady rate.
a steady stream of visitors/enquiries etc
▪ A steady stream of refugees arrived at the camp.
▷ stable /ˈsteɪb ə l/ [adjective]
use this about prices, amounts, or levels that are no longer changing, after a period when they were changing a lot :
▪ Fuel prices have become more stable after several increases last year.
remain stable
▪ His temperature remained stable throughout the night.
▷ fixed /fɪkst/ [adjective]
use this about amounts, prices, or times that cannot be changed :
▪ The lessons began and ended at fixed times.
▪ In Communist Russia prices of all common commodities used to be fixed.
fixed income/price/rate etc
▪ Workers are paid a fixed rate per hour.
▪ a fixed-rate mortgage
▪ ‘I’m retired and on a fixed income.’ Marson said. ‘I can’t handle this myself, financially.’
fixed penalty
▪ The policeman told me there was a fixed penalty of $20 for driving without a rear light.
▷ unchanging /ʌnˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ [adjective]
not changing even when conditions change :
▪ the unchanging nature of God
▪ The road ran through an unchanging desert landscape.
▪ Here, you seem to be immersed in an unchanging rural way of life, seemingly unaffected by progress and the modern world.
23. difficult or impossible to change
▷ rigid /ˈrɪdʒɪd, ˈrɪdʒəd/ [adjective]
a system that is rigid is extremely difficult or impossible to change and is therefore annoying :
▪ People naturally get very frustrated with rigid bureaucracies.
▪ The rigid class distinctions which characterised British society are beginning to break down.
▪ The President will not be able to meet enough people if he is kept to an unnaturally rigid schedule.
▪ The government had centralized political power and imposed rigid controls on economic activity.
▷ inflexible /ɪnˈfleksɪb ə l, ɪnˈfleksəb ə l/ [adjective]
difficult or impossible to change, even when a change would be better :
▪ The regulations are precise and inflexible in such matters.
▪ It is a huge, inflexible and impersonal organization.
24. to change your decisions, intentions, or plans
▷ change your mind /ˌtʃeɪndʒ jɔːʳ ˈmaɪnd/ [verb phrase]
▪ No, I’m not going out tonight. I’ve changed my mind.
▪ What if she changes her mind and doesn’t turn up?
change your mind about
▪ If you change your mind about the job, just give me a call.
▪ Barry hadn’t changed his mind about leaving.
▷ have second thoughts /hæv ˌsekənd ˈθɔːts/ [verb phrase]
to feel less sure about something that you intended to do, and begin to think that it may not be a good idea :
▪ Couples contemplating divorce often have second thoughts when they realize how it will affect their children.
have second thoughts about
▪ It was obvious that the company was having second thoughts about the whole project.
▷ get cold feet /get ˌkəʊld ˈfiːt/ [verb phrase] informal
to suddenly feel that you are not brave enough to do something that you intended to do :
▪ A month before the wedding Rose seemed nervous and anxious, and I wondered if she was getting cold feet.
▪ Some investors got cold feet, and pulled out of the project at the last minute.
▷ backtrack /ˈbæktræk/ [intransitive verb]
to change your mind about something you have publicly promised to do, by saying that you will only do part of it or that you might not do it at all :
▪ If union leaders start to backtrack now, they’ll lose their supporters.
backtrack on
▪ The President seems to be backtracking on some of his election promises.
▪ There is increased pressure on Congress to backtrack on some of the welfare cuts imposed last year.
25. to change your opinion or belief about something
▷ change your mind /ˌtʃeɪndʒ jɔːʳ ˈmaɪnd/ [verb phrase]
to change your opinion about something or someone :
▪ At first the doctor said I was suffering from a virus, but now he’s changed his mind.
▪ Everyone has a right to change their mind.
change your mind about
▪ I’m hoping Dad will change his mind about Louise after he meets her tonight.
▪ I’ve changed my mind about the Riviera. I do like it after all.
▷ revise your opinion /rɪˌvaɪz jɔːr əˈpɪnjən/ [verb phrase] formal
to change your opinion because something has happened that has made you realize that you were wrong before :
revise your opinion about/of
▪ Mrs Pemberton revised her opinion of her future son-in-law when he was accepted into law school.
▪ Since visiting the refugee camps, I have revised my opinion about immigration quotas.
▷ change your tune /ˌtʃeɪndʒ jɔːʳ ˈtjuːnǁ-ˈtuːn/ [verb phrase]
to change your mind about something and talk about it in a very different way from how you did before :
▪ She used to be a Communist, but she changed her tune when her parents left her all that money.
▪ You’ve changed your tune all of a sudden! Only yesterday you were saying you thought Christmas presents were a waste of money.
▷ change of heart /ˌtʃeɪndʒ əv ˈhɑːʳt/ [noun phrase]
when you begin to feel differently about something or someone so that your attitude completely changes :
▪ It’s hard to explain this apparent change of heart.
have a change of heart
▪ He didn’t want kids at first, but he’s had quite a change of heart.
change of heart about
▪ We can only hope Congress may have a radical change of heart about welfare benefits.
▷ come around also come round British /ˌkʌm əˈraʊnd, ˌkʌm ˈraʊnd/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to change your mind so that you gradually begin to agree with someone else’s idea or opinion, especially after they have persuaded you that they are right :
▪ He’ll come around eventually. He doesn’t have any choice, does he?
▪ My mother stopped speaking to me when I first married Tom, but she’s slowly coming around now.
come around to somebody’s view/way of thinking
▪ We had to talk to Sam for a long time before he came round to our way of thinking.
come around to the idea/view that
▪ A lot of employers are coming around to the idea that older employees have a lot to offer a company.
come around to doing something
▪ We’re hoping that they’ll eventually come round to accepting our offer.
▷ recant /rɪˈkænt/ [intransitive verb] formal
to say publicly or formally that you have changed your mind and stopped believing what you used to believe, especially about religion or politics :
▪ During the Moscow Show Trials in the 1930s, prisoners were forced to publicly recant.
▪ After the Reformation, many Catholics recanted to avoid punishment.
26. to keep changing your mind
▷ vacillate /ˈvæsɪleɪt, ˈvæsəleɪt/ [intransitive verb]
to keep changing your mind about what you believe or what you are going to do, especially when you have two choices and you cannot decide which one is best :
▪ The longer you vacillate the less time you’ll have to do anything worthwhile.
vacillate between
▪ The writer seems to vacillate between approving of Collins’ actions and finding them disgusting.
▷ fickle /ˈfɪk ə l/ [adjective]
someone who is fickle is always changing their mind about the people or things that they like so you cannot depend on them :
▪ She had been a great star once, but the fickle public now ignored her movies.
▷ blow hot and cold /bləʊ ˌhɒt ən ˈkəʊldǁ-ˌhɑːt-/ [verb phrase] especially British, informal
if someone blows hot and cold about something, they keep changing their attitude so that sometimes they are eager to do it and at other times they are unwilling :
▪ I can’t tell what he wants - he keeps blowing hot and cold.
▪ In our dealings with the police we have found that they can blow hot and cold. Sometimes they are keen to have media help in solving a crime, other times they are more reluctant.
27. willing to change the way you do something
▷ flexible /ˈfleksɪb ə l, ˈfleksəb ə l/ [adjective]
willing to change your ideas, plans, or methods according to the situation :
▪ If you’re looking for a job you need to be flexible about where you’re prepared to work.
▪ He said the key to his business success was not forgetting to stay flexible.
▷ adaptable /əˈdæptəb ə l/ [adjective]
someone who is adaptable does not get upset or annoyed if they have to change the way they do things, and easily gets used to new situations :
▪ Children are often more adaptable than adults.
▪ I’m not sure Ken’s adaptable enough to take a job abroad.
28. to refuse to change your mind
▷ stubborn /ˈstʌbəʳn/ [adjective]
determined not to change your mind, even when people think you are being unreasonable :
▪ We need to do something about Craig, but he’s so stubborn I just know he wouldn’t listen if we tried to talk to him.
a stubborn streak
a stubborn part of your character
▪ I’ve got a very stubborn streak and I discovered that I couldn’t bear people telling me what I could and couldn’t eat.
stubborn as a mule
very stubborn
▪ Jean-Paul can be as a stubborn as a mule.
▷ stand firm /ˌstænd ˈfɜːʳm/ [verb phrase]
to refuse to change your opinions or plans even though other people are trying to make you :
▪ When you know that you are right, you have to stand firm and defend your principles.
stand firm against
▪ We stood firm against any deal with the terrorists.
stand firm on
▪ The president has failed to stand firm on his promise to allow gays to serve in the military.
▷ stand your ground /ˌstænd jɔːʳ ˈgraʊnd/ [verb phrase]
to refuse to change your position in an argument even though other people are trying to persuade you to change it :
▪ They tried to make him change his mind, but he stood his ground.
stand your ground against
▪ Richard always went along with Ella’s plans, never once daring to stand his ground against her.
▷ intransigent /ɪnˈtrænsɪdʒ ə nt, ɪnˈtrænsədʒ ə nt/ [adjective] formal
refusing to do what other people want you to do, even if this is unreasonable :
▪ For many years the South African government remained intransigent, despite mounting world opposition to apartheid.
intransigent on
▪ The Church has been criticized for being intransigent on the issues of abortion and birth control.
29. unwilling to accept changes or new ideas
▷ have fixed ideas /hæv ˌfɪkst aɪˈdɪəz/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
someone who has fixed ideas has opinions and attitudes that never change, and often seem unreasonable :
▪ These old teachers tend to have very fixed ideas.
have fixed ideas about
▪ He has very fixed ideas about the way a wife should behave.
▷ reactionary /riˈækʃən ə riǁ-ʃəneri/ [adjective]
strongly opposed to change, especially social or political change, in a way that you think is unreasonable :
▪ The seventy-year-old president has been condemned as reactionary by his radical opponents.
▪ He is known for his reactionary views on immigration and the reintroduction of the death penalty.
▪ Cultural attitudes to women were more reactionary than in most of Western Europe.
reactionary [countable noun]
▪ a bunch of right wing reactionaries
▷ entrenched /ɪnˈtrentʃt/ [adjective usually before noun]
entrenched attitudes are ones that people have had for a long time and are very difficult to change :
entrenched in
▪ The unequal treatment of men and women in the labour market is deeply entrenched in our culture.
firmly/deeply entrenched
▪ In the small towns racial prejudice was deeply entrenched.
entrenched attitudes/habits/beliefs etc
▪ The attitudes of adults to the mentally handicapped tend to be firmly entrenched, and difficult to change.
▷ stick in the mud /ˈstɪk ɪn ðə ˌmʌd/ [noun phrase] informal
someone who has old-fashioned attitudes and is unwilling to change or try something new :
▪ Come on, don’t be such an old stick in the mud.
▪ She accused him of being a stick in the mud.
▷ diehard /ˈdaɪhɑːʳd/ [countable noun]
someone who still refuses to change their beliefs even when most other people have changed them :
▪ Apart from a few union diehards most of the men have accepted the new productivity agreement.
diehard [adjective]
▪ Diehard opponents of the scheme say that they will appeal against the court’s decision.
▪ The attempted coup was staged by a group of the ex-president’s most diehard supporters.
▷ hidebound /ˈhaɪdbaʊnd/ [adjective]
a group of people or an institution that is hidebound has very old-fashioned ideas and attitudes and is unwilling to change them :
▪ It was predictable that the medical establishment, so hidebound and reactionary, would reject Dr Stone’s ideas.
▪ The hidebound attitudes of Russia’s powerful aristocracy made any kind of progress impossible.
30. unwilling to change the way you do things
▷ inflexible /ɪnˈfleksɪb ə l, ɪnˈfleksəb ə l/ [adjective]
not willing to change the way you think or the way you do something :
▪ Although many students adored Albers, others found him inflexible and stifling.
▪ Union negotiators criticized the employers for being too inflexible on the issues of pay and working conditions.
▷ be set in your ways /biː ˌset ɪn jɔːʳ ˈweɪz/ [verb phrase]
to be unable to change the way you do things because you have done them that way for a long time :
▪ I’m too old and set in my ways to try living in a foreign country now.
▷ rigid /ˈrɪdʒɪd, ˈrɪdʒəd/ [adjective]
someone who is rigid will never change their mind about what is right or wrong or about how things should be done :
▪ Our manager was so rigid, he’d never listen to our ideas.
▪ Any major changes were prevented by the rigid conservatism of the Church.
rigid in your ideas/opinions/attitudes etc
▪ Andrew was even more rigid in his attitudes towards child-rearing than his father, who was himself quite strict.
31. when something that has been decided cannot be changed
▷ final /ˈfaɪnl/ [adjective]
a decision that is final cannot be changed, especially because it has been made officially by someone in authority :
▪ They thought carefully before making a final commitment to buy.
final approval/decision etc
▪ The judges’ decision is final.
▪ The officials have final authority when making decisions.
and that’s final!
spoken used to say that you will not change your mind about something, and do not want to hear any more about it
▪ You’re not going out, and that’s final!
have the final say
be the person who makes the final decision
▪ My boss has approved the project, but it’s the Chief Executive who has the final say.
finally [adverb]
▪ The new school timetable has not been finally decided yet.
▷ irrevocable /ɪˈrevəkəb ə l/ [adjective] formal
a decision or choice which is irrevocable cannot be changed after it has been made :
▪ Her decision was immediate and irrevocable.
▪ I posted the letter, then realized that what I had done was irrevocable, and that I couldn’t change my mind now.
irrevocably [adverb]
▪ Britain could be irrevocably tied to a single European currency.
▷ there is no going back /ðeər ɪz ˌnəʊ gəʊɪŋ ˈbæk/
use this to say that what you have decided or done is permanent and cannot be changed :
▪ You’ve committed your time and money to the project now -- there’s no going back.
▪ It had started as a casual affair but they both knew that now there was no going back.