Vary
To differ or change in amount, degree, or character; to cause something to differ or change.
verbVary
To differ or change in amount, degree, or character; to cause something to differ or change.
verb💡
Imagine This
Imagine a chef who tweaks a recipe every night—one night adding more spice, the next night reducing salt, so the dish continually varies.
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Sounds Like
VER-ee (often sounds like 'very' in many dialects)
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Looks Like
Very with an extra 'a' (looks similar in spelling)
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Remember This
Root idea is change and difference; related words include variety, various, and variation.
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Other Forms
varyingverb
variesverb
variedverb
variationnoun
variousadjective
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Note
Vary is often followed by from... to... or used with by to indicate differences. It can be transitive (vary the menu) or intransitive (prices vary). Watch for confusing pairs like 'vary' vs. 'varying' or 'very'.