VARY (varied)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: varied   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vary mean? 

• VARY (verb)
  The verb VARY has 4 senses:

1. become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence

2. be at variance with; be out of line with

3. be subject to change in accordance with a variable

4. make something more diverse and varied

  Familiarity information: VARY used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VARY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they vary    ... he / she / it varies   
Past simple: varied   
Past participle: varied   
-ing form: varying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

alter; change; vary

Context example:

The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vary"):

crackle (to become, or to cause to become, covered with a network of small cracks)

break (vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity)

honeycomb (make full of cavities, like a honeycomb)

narrow; narrow down; specialise; specialize (become more focused on an area of activity or field of study)

diversify; radiate (spread into new habitats and produce variety or variegate)

branch out; broaden; diversify (vary in order to spread risk or to expand)

take in (make (clothes) smaller)

let out; widen (make (clothes) larger)

accommodate; adapt (make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose)

move (go or proceed from one point to another)

avianise; avianize (to modify microorganisms by repeated culture in the developing chick embryo)

modulate (vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves))

alternate; jump (go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

variable (marked by diversity or difference)

variant (something a little different from others of the same type)

variant (differing from a norm or standard)

variation (something a little different from others of the same type)

variable (liable to or capable of change)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be at variance with; be out of line with

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

depart; deviate; diverge; vary

Hypernyms (to "vary" is one way to...):

differ (be different)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vary"):

aberrate (diverge or deviate from the straight path; produce aberration)

aberrate (diverge from the expected)

belie; contradict; negate (be in contradiction with)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

variation (an activity that varies from a norm or standard)

variation ((astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon))

variation ((biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration)

variant (differing from a norm or standard)

variant (an event that departs from expectations)

variance (an activity that varies from a norm or standard)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Be subject to change in accordance with a variable

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

His moods vary depending on the weather

Hypernyms (to "vary" is one way to...):

differ (be different)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vary"):

co-vary (vary in the same time period (of two random variables))

drift (vary or move from a fixed point or course)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

variable (liable to or capable of change)

variable (marked by diversity or difference)

variant (differing from a norm or standard)

variant (exhibiting variation and change)

variate (a variable quantity that is random)

variation (an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change)

variation ((astronomy) any perturbation of the mean motion or orbit of a planet or satellite (especially a perturbation of the earth's moon))

variation (the angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Make something more diverse and varied

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

motley; variegate; vary

Context example:

Vary the menu

Hypernyms (to "vary" is one way to...):

diversify (make (more) diverse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "vary"):

checker; chequer (variegate with different colors, shades, or patterns)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

variable (marked by diversity or difference)

variant (exhibiting variation and change)

variation (the act of changing or altering something slightly but noticeably from the norm or standard)

 Context examples 

The method of counting varies, according to the specific tumor examined.

(Mitotic Count, NCI Thesaurus)

Symptoms of bone marrow diseases vary.

(Bone Marrow Diseases, NIH)

Treatment for mouth disorders varies, depending on the problem.

(Mouth Disorders, NIH)

The RNA portion of the msDNA molecule, which contains two stem-loop structures and varies widely in length across bacterial species.

(msdRNA, NCI Thesaurus)

We mean nothing but a little amusement among ourselves, just to vary the scene, and exercise our powers in something new.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The different types can vary in whom they affect, which muscles they affect, and what the symptoms are.

(Muscular Dystrophy, NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Other symptoms vary, depending on the location and size of the cancer.

(Bone Cancer, NIH: National Cancer Institute)

Birth defects can vary from mild to severe.

(Birth Defects, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Its wingspan varies from 1.5 to 3.5 meters.

(Brazil and China scientists unearth pterosaur eggs with preserved embryos, Agência Brasil)

Different chocolates can vary greatly in their flavanol content.

(Can Chocolate Really Be Good for You?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)