ˈverē, ˈva(a)r-, ˈvār-, -ri verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English varien, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French varier, from Latin variare, from varius diverse, various — more at various
transitive verb
1. : to bring about differences in:
a. : to make an especially minor or partial change in : make different in some attribute or characteristic
this is not a proceeding which may be varied — John Marshall
b. : to make differences between items in : insure variety in : make unlike in some particular : variegate , diversify
a program that was varied enough to avoid monotony — Katharine Amend
the days were not crowded, but they were enviably varied — Virginia Woolf
2. : to present under new aspects
vary the rhythm and harmonic treatment
intransitive verb
1. : to exhibit or undergo change : break from sameness or uniformity : differ
a constantly varying terrain — Shipley Thomas
chapters of varying worth — F.N.Robinson
historical allusions of varying degrees of accuracy — T.D.McCormick
2. : deviate , depart , swerve
vary from the law
vary from the mean
3. : to exhibit differing qualities or attributes in alternation or succession with something else
one mathematical quantity may vary inversely with another
4. : to exhibit divergence in structural or physiological characters from those typical or usual in the group
Synonyms: see change , differ