Library / English Dictionary

CHANGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The action of changing something

Example:

his change on abortion cost him the election

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "change"):

entail (the act of entailing property; the creation of a fee tail from a fee simple)

about-face; policy change; reversal; volte-face (a major change in attitude or principle or point of view)

adulteration (the act of adulterating (especially the illicit substitution of one substance for another))

move; relocation (the act of changing your residence or place of business)

downshift (a change to a lower gear in a car or bicycle)

downshift (a change from a financially rewarding but stressful career to a less well paid but more fulfilling one)

filtration (the act of changing a fluid by passing it through a filter)

reduction; simplification (the act of reducing complexity)

decimalisation; decimalization (the act of changing to a decimal system)

metrication; metrification (the act of changing from imperial units of measurement to metric units: meters, grams, seconds)

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

turning (act of changing in practice or custom)

diversification; variegation (the act of introducing variety (especially in investments or in the variety of goods and services offered))

flux (in constant change)

shift; switch; switching (the act of changing one thing or position for another)

commutation; exchange; substitution (the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another:)

promotion (act of raising in rank or position)

demotion (act of lowering in rank or position)

change of state (the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics)

adjustment; alteration; modification (the act of making something different (as e.g. the size of a garment))

motion; move; movement (the act of changing location from one place to another)

movement (the act of changing the location of something)

motility; motion; move; movement (a change of position that does not entail a change of location)

change of direction; reorientation (the act of changing the direction in which something is oriented)

change of magnitude (the act of changing the amount or size of something)

change of integrity (the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something)

conversion (the act of changing from one use or function or purpose to another)

updating (the act of changing something to bring it up to date (usually by adding something))

change of shape (an action that changes the shape of something)

satisfaction (act of fulfilling a desire or need or appetite)

nationalisation; nationalization (the action of rendering national in character)

communisation; communization (a change from private property to public property owned by the community)

secularisation; secularization (the activity of changing something (art or education or society or morality etc.) so it is no longer under the control or influence of religion)

rollover (the act of changing the institution that invests your pension plan without incurring a tax penalty)

Derivation:

change (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

change (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A different or fresh set of clothes

Example:

she brought a change in her overnight bag

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

article of clothing; clothing; habiliment; vesture; wear; wearable (a covering designed to be worn on a person's body)

Derivation:

change (change clothes; put on different clothes)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A thing that is different

Example:

he inspected several changes before selecting one

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

thing (an entity that is not named specifically)

Derivation:

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

change (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

change (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A difference that is usually pleasant

Example:

it is a refreshing change to meet a woman mechanic

Synonyms:

change; variety

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

difference (the quality of being unlike or dissimilar)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another

Example:

the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago

Synonyms:

alteration; change; modification

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "change"):

acceleration (an increase in rate of change)

deceleration; retardation; slowing (a decrease in rate of change)

avulsion (an abrupt change in the course of a stream that forms the boundary between two parcels of land resulting in the loss of part of the land of one landowner and a consequent increase in the land of another)

break (an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion))

mutation (a change or alteration in form or qualities)

sublimation ((psychology) modifying the natural expression of an impulse or instinct (especially a sexual one) to one that is socially acceptable)

surprise (a sudden unexpected event)

birth; nascence; nascency; nativity (the event of being born)

breakup; detachment; separation (coming apart)

vagary (an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.))

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

conversion (a change of religion)

death; decease; expiry (the event of dying or departure from life)

decrease; drop-off; lessening (a change downward)

destabilization (an event that causes a loss of equilibrium (as of a ship or aircraft))

increase (a change resulting in an increase)

easing; moderation; relief (a change for the better)

deformation (alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it)

transition (a change from one place or state or subject or stage to another)

shift; transformation; transmutation (a qualitative change)

scintillation; sparkling; twinkle (a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash)

play; shimmer (a weak and tremulous light)

transmutation ((physics) the change of one chemical element into another (as by nuclear decay or radioactive bombardment))

damage; harm; impairment (the occurrence of a change for the worse)

development (a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation)

revolution (a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving)

chromosomal mutation; genetic mutation; mutation ((genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism)

sex change (a change in a person's physical sexual characteristics (as by surgery and hormone treatments))

loss of consciousness (the occurrence of a loss of the ability to perceive and respond)

Derivation:

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

change (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

change (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The result of alteration or modification

Example:

there had been no change in the mountains

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

consequence; effect; event; issue; outcome; result; upshot (a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "change"):

depolarisation; depolarization (a loss of polarity or polarization)

Derivation:

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

change (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

change (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Money received in return for its equivalent in a larger denomination or a different currency

Example:

he got change for a twenty and used it to pay the taxi driver

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

cash; hard cash; hard currency (money in the form of bills or coins)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The balance of money received when the amount you tender is greater than the amount due

Example:

I paid with a twenty and pocketed the change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

cash; hard cash; hard currency (money in the form of bills or coins)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Coins of small denomination regarded collectively

Example:

he had a pocketful of change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

coin (a flat metal piece (usually a disc) used as money)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event

Example:

he attributed the change to their marriage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Hypernyms ("change" is a kind of...):

relation (an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "change"):

difference (a significant change)

gradient (a graded change in the magnitude of some physical quantity or dimension)

Derivation:

change (become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)

change (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature

Example:

The weather changed last night

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

freshen; freshen up; refresh; refreshen (become or make oneself fresh again)

dress; get dressed (put on clothes)

acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))

regenerate (undergo regeneration)

shade (pass from one quality such as color to another by a slight degree)

gel (become a gel)

animalise; animalize; brutalise; brutalize (become brutal or insensitive and unfeeling)

convert (change in nature, purpose, or function; undergo a chemical change)

creolize (develop into a creole)

mutate (undergo mutation)

experience; have (undergo)

decrepitate (undergo decrepitation and crackle)

suburbanise; suburbanize (take on suburban character)

roll; roll up (show certain properties when being rolled)

glass; glass over; glaze; glaze over (become glassy or take on a glass-like appearance)

grow; turn (pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become)

barbarise; barbarize (become crude or savage or barbaric in behavior or language)

alkalinise; alkalinize (become alkaline)

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

change integrity (change in physical make-up)

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

form (assume a form or shape)

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

climb up; jump; rise (rise in rank or status)

assimilate (become similar in sound)

dissimilate (become dissimilar or less similar)

dissimilate (become dissimilar by changing the sound qualities)

change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)

modify (make less severe or harsh or extreme)

deaden (become lifeless, less lively, intense, or active; lose life, force, or vigor)

break (be broken in)

crumble; decay; dilapidate (fall into decay or ruin)

mildew; mold (become moldy; spoil due to humidity)

hydrate (become hydrated and combine with water)

dry; dry out (become dry or drier)

strengthen (gain strength)

distil; distill (undergo the process of distillation)

deoxidise; deoxidize; reduce (to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons)

crack (break into simpler molecules by means of heat)

oxidate; oxidise; oxidize (add oxygen to or combine with oxygen)

oxidate; oxidise; oxidize (enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide)

grow (become attached by or as if by the process of growth)

mellow; mellow out; melt (become more relaxed, easygoing, or genial)

soften (become soft or softer)

ionise; ionize (become converted into ions)

stabilise; stabilize (become stable or more stable)

destabilise; destabilize (become unstable)

lighten; lighten up (become lighter)

color; colour; discolor; discolour (change color, often in an undesired manner)

discolor (lose color or turn colorless)

contract; narrow (make or become more narrow or restricted)

darken (become dark or darker)

dim (become dim or lusterless)

boil (immerse or be immersed in a boiling liquid, often for cooking purposes)

break; check; crack (become fractured; break or crack on the surface only)

transpire (come to light; become known)

resume; take up (return to a previous location or condition)

change surface (undergo or cause to undergo a change in the surface)

sublimate; sublime (vaporize and then condense right back again)

cool; cool down; cool off (lose intensity)

warm up (become more friendly or open)

warm; warm up (get warm or warmer)

metamorphose; transform; transmute (change in outward structure or looks)

convert (change religious beliefs, or adopt a religious belief)

dull (become dull or lusterless in appearance; lose shine or brightness)

get used to (get or become familiar or accustomed with through experience)

complexify; ramify (have or develop complicating consequences)

Americanise; Americanize (become American in character)

develop; modernise; modernize (become technologically advanced)

stiffen (become stiff or stiffer)

tighten (become tight or tighter)

break; break down; conk out; die; fail; give out; give way; go; go bad (stop operating or functioning)

give way; yield (end resistance, as under pressure or force)

harden; indurate (become hard or harder)

harden; indurate (make hard or harder)

suffuse (to become overspread as with a fluid, a colour, a gleam of light)

hush (become quiet or still; fall silent)

normalise; normalize (become normal or return to its normal state)

reorient (set or arrange in a new or different determinate position)

purify (become clean or pure or free of guilt and sin)

digest (become assimilated into the body)

regress (go back to a statistical means)

foul (become soiled and dirty)

decalcify (lose calcium or calcium compounds)

industrialise; industrialize (develop industry; become industrial)

decarboxylate (lose a carboxyl group)

spot (become spotted)

find; get; incur; obtain; receive (receive a specified treatment (abstract))

acetylate; acetylise; acetylize (receive substitution of an acetyl group)

acquire; adopt; assume; take; take on (take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect)

prim (assume a prim appearance)

capacitate (cause (spermatozoa) to undergo the physical changes necessary to fertilize an egg)

caseate (become cheeselike)

caseate (turn into cheese)

clinker (turn to clinker or form clinker under excessive heat in burning)

cure (be or become preserved)

dawn (become light)

salinate (add salt to)

desalinate; desalinise; desalinize; desalt (remove salt from)

shallow; shoal (become shallow)

steepen (become steeper)

superannuate (become obsolete)

ulcerate (undergo ulceration)

vitrify (undergo vitrification; become glassy or glass-like)

vulcanise; vulcanize (undergo vulcanization)

dull; pall (become less interesting or attractive)

become flat; die; pall (lose sparkle or bouquet)

saponify (become converted into soap by being hydrolized into an acid and alcohol as a result of being treated with an alkali)

go; move; run (progress by being changed)

come (reach or enter a state, relation, condition, use, or position)

catch (be struck or affected by)

catch on (become popular)

develop; grow (grow emotionally or mature)

fly (change quickly from one emotional state to another)

acquire; develop; evolve (gain through experience)

assibilate (change into a sibilant)

smoothen (become smooth)

turn on (become hostile towards)

drop (change from one level to another)

break into (change pace)

change; deepen (become deeper in tone)

concretise; concretize (become specific)

decay (undergo decay or decomposition)

commute; transpose (exchange positions without a change in value)

introject (incorporate (attitudes or ideas) into one's personality unconsciously)

shift (change in quality)

swing (alternate dramatically between high and low values)

fall (be cast down)

fall (assume a disappointed or sad expression)

reflate (economics: experience reflation)

hydrolyse; hydrolyze (undergo hydrolysis; decompose by reacting with water)

fold; fold up (become folded or folded up)

gelatinise; gelatinize (become gelatinous or change into a jelly)

felt; felt up; mat; mat up; matt-up; matte; matte up (change texture so as to become matted and felt-like)

recombine (undergo genetic recombination)

feminise; feminize (assume (more) feminine characteristics)

obsolesce (become obsolete, fall into disuse)

plasticise; plasticize (become plastic, as by having a plasticizer added)

recede (become faint or more distant)

defervesce (experience an abatement of a fever)

incandesce (become incandescent or glow with heat)

calcify (become inflexible and unchanging)

drift (be subject to fluctuation)

play out (become spent or exhausted)

conjugate (undergo conjugation)

isomerise; isomerize (change into an isomer)

evaporate; vaporise (change into a vapor)

indurate (become fixed or established)

gradate (pass imperceptibly from one degree, shade, or tone into another)

keratinise; keratinize (become horny and impregnated with keratin)

opacify (become opaque)

mature (become due for repayment)

rejuvenate (develop youthful topographical features)

sequester (undergo sequestration by forming a stable compound with an ion)

transaminate (undergo transfer from one compound to another)

vesiculate (become vesicular or full of air cells)

undulate (increase and decrease in volume or pitch, as if in waves)

vascularise; vascularize (become vascular and have vessels that circulate fluids)

crash (undergo a sudden and severe downturn)

professionalise; professionalize (become professional or proceed in a professional manner or in an activity for pay or as a means of livelihood)

shift (change phonetically as part of a systematic historical change)

flip; flip out (go mad, go crazy)

gum (become sticky)

repress (block the action of)

shear (become deformed by forces tending to produce a shearing strain)

damage (suffer or be susceptible to damage)

synthesize (combine and form a synthesis)

come around; come round (change one's position or opinion)

promote (be changed for a superior chess or checker piece)

divide; part; separate (come apart)

arrange; format (set (printed matter) into a specific format)

fall for (fall in love with; become infatuated with)

ascend; move up; rise (move to a better position in life or to a better job)

change posture (undergo a change in bodily posture)

settle (become clear by the sinking of particles)

break; cave in; collapse; fall in; founder; give; give way (break down, literally or metaphorically)

undergo (pass through)

solarise; solarize (become overexposed)

occult (become concealed or hidden from view or have its light extinguished)

pass (transfer to another; of rights or property)

depart; leave; pull up stakes (remove oneself from an association with or participation in)

liberalise; liberalize (become more liberal)

stratify (develop different social levels, classes, or castes)

democratise; democratize (become (more) democratic; of nations)

loosen; relax (become less severe or strict)

reticulate (form a net or a network)

flocculate (form into an aggregated lumpy or fluffy mass)

carbonate (turn into a carbonate)

come in (come into fashion; become fashionable)

go out (go out of fashion; become unfashionable)

stagnate (cause to stagnate)

make (undergo fabrication or creation)

frost over; ice over; ice up (become covered with a layer of ice; of a surface such as a window)

Sentence frames:

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

Antonym:

stay (stay the same; remain in a certain state)

Derivation:

change (the result of alteration or modification)

change (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

change (a thing that is different)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Example:

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

Synonyms:

alter; change; vary

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

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)

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

let out; widen (make (clothes) larger)

take in (make (clothes) smaller)

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

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

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

honeycomb (make full of cavities, like a honeycomb)

break (vary or interrupt a uniformity or continuity)

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence example:

They change the countryside

Derivation:

change (the action of changing something)

change (a thing that is different)

change (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

change (the result of alteration or modification)

change (a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

Example:

The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue

Synonyms:

alter; change; modify

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Cause:

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

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

arouse; awaken; rouse; wake; wake up; waken (cause to become awake or conscious)

cause to sleep (make fall asleep)

affect (act physically on; have an effect upon)

freshen; refresh; refreshen (make fresh again)

fecundate; fertilise; fertilize; inseminate (introduce semen into (a female))

indispose (cause to feel unwell)

cry (bring into a particular state by crying)

etiolate (make pale or sickly)

shade (vary slightly)

animalise; animalize; brutalise; brutalize (make brutal, unfeeling, or inhuman)

convert (change the nature, purpose, or function of something)

opalise; opalize (make opalescent)

arterialise; arterialize (change venous blood into arterial blood)

get; make (give certain properties to something)

counterchange; interchange; transpose (cause to change places)

vascularise; vascularize (make vascular)

decrepitate (to roast or calcine so as to cause to crackle or until crackling stops)

suburbanise; suburbanize (make suburban in character)

overturn; revolutionise; revolutionize (change radically)

etiolate (bleach and alter the natural development of (a green plant) by excluding sunlight)

barbarise; barbarize (make crude or savage in behavior or speech)

alkalinise; alkalinize (make (a substance) alkaline)

mythicise; mythicize; mythologise; mythologize (make into a myth)

allegorise; allegorize (make into an allegory)

demythologise; demythologize (remove the mythical element from (writings))

bring; land (bring into a different state)

coarsen (make less subtle or refined)

affect; bear on; bear upon; impact; touch; touch on (have an effect upon)

alchemise; alchemize (alter (elements) by alchemy)

alcoholise; alcoholize (make alcoholic, as by fermenting)

form; shape (give shape or form to)

round; round down; round off; round out (express as a round number)

suspend (cause to be held in suspension in a fluid)

sober (cause to become sober)

reconstruct (cause somebody to adapt or reform socially or politically)

increase (make bigger or more)

ease off; ease up; let up (reduce pressure or intensity)

assimilate (make similar)

dissimilate (make dissimilar; cause to become less similar)

commute; convert; exchange (exchange a penalty for a less severe one)

vitalise; vitalize (give life to)

clear; unclutter (rid of obstructions)

activate (make active or more active)

activate (make (substances) radioactive)

activate; aerate (aerate (sewage) so as to favor the growth of organisms that decompose organic matter)

activate (make more adsorptive)

deactivate; inactivate (make inactive)

blunt; deaden (make less lively, intense, or vigorous; impair in vigor, force, activity, or sensation)

reconstruct; redo; remodel (do over, as of (part of) a house)

edit; redact (prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting)

cut; edit; edit out (cut and assemble the components of)

chasten; subdue; tame (correct by punishment or discipline)

chasten; temper (change by restraining or moderating)

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen (make worse)

wet (cause to become wet)

dry; dry out (remove the moisture from and make dry)

lubricate (make slippery or smooth through the application of a lubricant)

beef up; fortify; strengthen (make strong or stronger)

fortify; lace; spike (add alcohol to (beverages))

weaken (lessen the strength of)

blunt (make less sharp)

oxidate; oxidise; oxidize (add oxygen to or combine with oxygen)

merge; unify; unite (join or combine)

age (make older)

mature; ripen (cause to ripen or develop fully)

antiquate; antique (give an antique appearance to)

antiquate (make obsolete or old-fashioned)

develop; make grow (cause to grow and differentiate in ways conforming to its natural development)

soften (make soft or softer)

damage (inflict damage upon)

ossify (cause to become hard and bony)

acerbate (make sour or bitter)

stabilise; stabilize (make stable and keep from fluctuating or put into an equilibrium)

destabilise; destabilize (make unstable)

sensibilise; sensibilize; sensify; sensitise; sensitize (make sensitive or aware)

desensitise; desensitize (make insensitive)

accustom; habituate (make psychologically or physically used (to something))

disarray; disorder (bring disorder to)

discolor (cause to lose or change color)

color; color in; colorise; colorize; colour; colour in; colourise; colourize (add color to)

stain (produce or leave stains)

hue (take on color or become colored)

uglify (make ugly)

untune (cause to be out of tune)

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

set (put into a certain state; cause to be in a certain state)

disqualify; indispose; unfit (make unfit or unsuitable)

domesticate; domesticise; domesticize; reclaim; tame (overcome the wildness of; make docile and tractable)

widen (make wider)

dehydrogenate (remove hydrogen from)

hydrogenate (combine or treat with or expose to hydrogen; add hydrogen to the molecule of (an unsaturated organic compound))

oxygenise; oxygenize (change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part; or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence: remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule))

darken (make dark or darker)

brighten; lighten; lighten up (make more cheerful through the use of color)

blear; blur (make dim or indistinct)

bedim; obscure; overcloud (make obscure or unclear)

blot out; hide; obliterate; obscure; veil (make undecipherable or imperceptible by obscuring or concealing)

cook (transform by heating)

slenderise; slenderize (make slender or appear to be slender)

crack (cause to become cracked)

dismiss; dissolve (declare void)

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

defog; demist (free from mist)

concentrate; condense; contract (compress or concentrate)

chill; cool; cool down (make cool or cooler)

heat; heat up (make hot or hotter)

warm (make warm or warmer)

boil (bring to, or maintain at, the boiling point)

freeze (cause to freeze)

blister (cause blisters to form on)

change over; shift; switch (make a shift in or exchange of)

transpose (change key)

change over; convert (change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy)

transform (increase or decrease (an alternating current or voltage))

transform (change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species)

transform (convert (one form of energy) to another)

transmute (alter the nature of (elements))

transform; transmute; transubstantiate (change or alter in form, appearance, or nature)

ash (convert into ashes)

transform; translate (change from one form or medium into another)

reclaim; rectify; reform; regenerate (bring, lead, or force to abandon a wrong or evil course of life, conduct, and adopt a right one)

convert (cause to adopt a new or different faith)

Islamise; Islamize (cause to conform to Islamic law)

invert; reverse; turn back (turn inside out or upside down)

invert (make an inversion (in a musical composition))

customise; customize (make according to requirements)

individualise; individualize; personalise; personalize (make personal or more personal)

depersonalise; depersonalize; objectify (make impersonal or present as an object)

sharpen (raise the pitch of (musical notes))

drop; flatten (lower the pitch of (musical notes))

disintegrate (cause to undergo fission or lose particles)

magnetise; magnetize (make magnetic)

degauss; demagnetise; demagnetize (make nonmagnetic; take away the magnetic properties (of))

simplify (make simpler or easier or reduce in complexity or extent)

complicate; elaborate; rarify; refine (make more complex, intricate, or richer)

refine (make more precise or increase the discriminatory powers of)

complicate; perplex (make more complicated)

pressurise; pressurize; supercharge (increase the pressure on a gas or liquid)

centralise; centralize; concentrate (make central)

decentralise; decentralize; deconcentrate (make less central)

socialise; socialize (make conform to socialist ideas and philosophies)

fix; gear up; prepare; ready; set; set up (make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc)

internationalise; internationalize (make international in character)

bolshevise; bolshevize; communise; communize (make Communist or bring in accord with Communist principles)

Europeanise; Europeanize (make (continental) European in customs, character, or ideas)

Europeanise; Europeanize (denationalize and subject (a territory) to the supervision of an agency of a European community of nations)

bestialise; bestialize (make brutal and depraved; give animal-like qualities to)

Americanise; Americanize (make American in character)

Frenchify (make French in appearance or character)

civilise; civilize (raise from a barbaric to a civilized state)

nationalise; nationalize (put under state control or ownership)

denationalise; denationalize (put under private control or ownership)

naturalise; naturalize (make into a citizen)

denaturalise; denaturalize (strip of the rights and duties of citizenship)

naturalise; naturalize (make more natural or lifelike)

denaturalise; denaturalize (make less natural or unnatural)

even; even out (become even or more even)

equal; equalise; equalize; equate; match (make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching)

stiffen (make stiff or stiffer)

loose; loosen (make loose or looser)

fasten; tighten (make tight or tighter)

transitivise; transitivize (make transitive)

detransitivise; detransitivize; intransitivise; intransitivize (intransitivize)

inspissate; thicken (make thick or thicker)

full (make (a garment) fuller by pleating or gathering)

diversify (make (more) diverse)

decelerate; slow down (reduce the speed of)

deaden (make vapid or deprive of spirit)

accelerate; speed; speed up (cause to move faster)

check; delay; retard (slow the growth or development of)

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

liquefy; liquidise; liquidize; liquify (make (a solid substance) liquid, as by heating)

solvate (cause a solvation in (a substance))

dissolve (cause to fade away)

validate (make valid or confirm the validity of)

invalidate; vitiate; void (take away the legal force of or render ineffective)

empty (make void or empty of contents)

fill; fill up; make full (make full, also in a metaphorical sense)

saturate (cause (a chemical compound, vapour, solution, magnetic material) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another substance)

clot; coagulate (cause to change from a liquid to a solid or thickened state)

louden (cause to become loud)

normalise; normalize; renormalise; renormalize (make normal or cause to conform to a norm or standard)

morph (cause to change shape in a computer animation)

neutralise; neutralize (make chemically neutral)

commercialise; commercialize; market (make commercial)

purge; purify; sanctify (make pure or free from sin or guilt)

mechanise; mechanize (make mechanical)

automate; automatise; automatize (make automatic or control or operate automatically)

automatise; automatize (turn into an automaton)

mechanise; mechanize (make monotonous; make automatic or routine)

chord; harmonise; harmonize (bring into consonance, harmony, or accord while making music or singing)

polarise; polarize (cause to vibrate in a definite pattern)

glorify (bestow glory upon)

contaminate (make radioactive by adding radioactive material)

devalue (lower the value or quality of)

insulate (protect from heat, cold, or noise by surrounding with insulating material)

calcify (convert into lime)

urbanise; urbanize (make more industrial or city-like)

urbanise; urbanize (impart urban habits, ways of life, or responsibilities upon)

emulsify (cause to become an emulsion; make into an emulsion)

demulsify (cause to demulsify)

decarboxylate (remove a carboxyl group from (a chemical compound))

nazify (cause or force to adopt Nazism or a Nazi character)

fecundate; fertilise; fertilize (make fertile or productive)

clarify (make clear by removing impurities or solids, as by heating)

embrittle (make brittle)

mark (make or leave a mark on)

nick (divide or reset the tail muscles of)

disable; disenable; incapacitate (make unable to perform a certain action)

enable (render capable or able for some task)

de-emphasise; de-emphasize; destress (reduce the emphasis)

tender; tenderise; tenderize (make tender or more tender as by marinating, pounding, or applying a tenderizer)

charge (cause formation of a net electrical charge in or on)

bubble (cause to form bubbles)

sweeten (make sweeter, more pleasant, or more agreeable)

iodinate (cause to combine with iodine)

ionate (add ions to)

archaise; archaize (give an archaic appearance of character to)

inform (give character or essence to)

officialise; officialize (make official)

occidentalise; occidentalize; westernise; westernize (make western in character)

orientalise; orientalize (make oriental in character)

acetylate; acetylise; acetylize (introduce an acetyl group into (a chemical compound))

achromatise; achromatize (remove color from)

collimate; parallel (make or place parallel to something)

camp (give an artificially banal or sexual quality to)

classicise; classicize (make classic or classical)

conventionalise; conventionalize (make conventional or adapt to conventions)

decimalise; decimalize (change from fractions to decimals)

dizzy (make dizzy or giddy)

envenom; poison (add poison to)

exteriorise; exteriorize; externalise; externalize; objectify (make external or objective, or give reality to)

glamorise; glamorize; glamourise; glamourize (make glamorous and attractive)

introvert (turn inside)

laicise; laicize (reduce to lay status)

politicise; politicize (give a political character to)

radicalize (make more radical in social or political outlook)

proof (activate by mixing with water and sometimes sugar or milk)

romanticise; romanticize (make romantic in style)

rusticate (lend a rustic character to)

sauce (add zest or flavor to, make more interesting)

shallow; shoal (make shallow)

tense (increase the tension on)

steepen (make steeper)

scramble (make unintelligible)

unscramble (make intelligible)

unsex (remove the qualities typical of one's sex)

vitrify (change into glass or a glass-like substance by applying heat)

pall (cause to become flat)

saponify (convert into soap by hydrolizing an ester into an acid and alcohol as a result of treating it with an alkali)

expand; extend (expand the influence of)

set aside; suspend (make inoperative or stop)

muddy (make turbid)

transform (subject to a mathematical transformation)

elevate; lift; raise (raise in rank or condition)

harshen (make harsh or harsher)

dinge (make dingy)

demonise; demonize (make into a demon)

devilise; devilize; diabolise; diabolize (turn into a devil or make devilish)

etherealize; etherialise (make ethereal)

immaterialise; immaterialize; unsubstantialise; unsubstantialize (render immaterial or incorporeal)

animate; animise; animize (give lifelike qualities to)

clear (make clear, bright, light, or translucent)

dynamise; dynamize (make (a drug) effective)

dynamise; dynamize (make more dynamic)

rarefy; sublimate; subtilize (make more subtle or refined)

volatilise; volatilize (make volatile; cause to pass off in a vapor)

uniformise; uniformize (make uniform)

symmetrise; symmetrize (make symmetric)

eternalise; eternalize; eternise; eternize; immortalise; immortalize (make famous forever)

denature (make (alcohol) unfit for drinking without impairing usefulness for other purposes)

denature (modify (as a native protein) especially by heat, acid, alkali, or ultraviolet radiation so that all of the original properties are removed or diminished)

denature (add nonfissionable material to (fissionable material) so as to make unsuitable for use in an atomic bomb)

sanitise; sanitize (make less offensive or more acceptable by removing objectionable features)

verbify (make into a verb)

shift (move from one setting or context to another)

sputter (cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed)

draw (bring or lead someone to a certain action or condition)

make (change from one form into another)

dope (add impurities to (a semiconductor) in order to produce or modify its properties)

prostrate (render helpless or defenseless)

excite (produce a magnetic field in)

energise; energize; excite (raise to a higher energy level)

shake (bring to a specified condition by or as if by shaking)

outmode (make unfashionable, outdated, or obsolete)

spice; spice up (make more interesting or flavorful)

shorten (make short or shorter)

think (bring into a given condition by mental preoccupation)

make (cause to be enjoyable or pleasurable)

deflate (produce deflation in)

inflate (cause prices to rise by increasing the available currency or credit)

reflate (economics: raise demand, expand the money supply, or raise prices, after a period of deflation)

digitalise; digitalize; digitise; digitize (put into digital form, as for use in a computer)

gelatinise; gelatinize (convert into gelatinous form or jelly)

recombine (cause genetic recombination)

effeminise; effeminize; feminise; feminize; womanize (to give a (more) feminine, effeminate, or womanly quality or appearance to)

masculinise; masculinize; virilise; virilize (produce virilism in or cause to assume masculine characteristics, as through a hormonal imbalance or hormone therapy)

masculinize (give a masculine appearance or character to)

disharmonize; dissonate (cause to sound harsh and unpleasant)

sexualise; sexualize (make sexual, endow with sex, attribute sex to)

schematise; schematize (give conventional form to)

patent (make open to sight or notice)

constitutionalise; constitutionalize (incorporate into a constitution, make constitutional)

rationalise; rationalize (remove irrational quantities from)

plasticise; plasticize (make plastic, as by the addition of a plasticizer)

rarefy (lessen the density or solidity of)

paganise; paganize (make pagan in character)

incandesce (cause to become incandescent or glow)

deaminate; deaminize (remove the amino radical (usually by hydrolysis) from an amino compound; to perform deamination)

angulate (make or become angular)

circularize (make circular)

sensitise; sensitize (make (a material) sensitive to light, often of a particular colour, by coating it with a photographic emulsion)

sensitise; sensitize (make sensitive to a drug or allergen)

depolarise; depolarize (eliminate the polarization of)

intensify (make the chemically affected part of (a negative) denser or more opaque in order produce a stronger contrast between light and dark)

isomerise; isomerize (cause to change into an isomer)

legitimate (make (an illegitimate child) legitimate; declare the legitimacy of (someone))

evaporate; vaporise (cause to change into a vapor)

industrialise; industrialize (organize (the production of something) into an industry)

opacify (make opaque)

opsonize (make (cells) more susceptible to the action of phagocytes)

militarise; militarize (adopt for military use)

nationalise; nationalize (make national in character or scope)

recommend (make attractive or acceptable)

sentimentalise; sentimentalize (make (someone or something) sentimental or imbue with sentimental qualities)

solemnise; solemnize (make solemn and grave)

territorialise; territorialize (place on a territorial basis)

transaminate (change (an amino group) by transferring it from one compound to another)

glorify; spiritualize; transfigure (elevate or idealize, in allusion to Christ's transfiguration)

unsanctify (remove the sanctification from or make unsanctified)

vesiculate (cause to become vesicular or full of air cells)

visualise; visualize (make visible)

variegate (change the appearance of, especially by marking with different colors)

ventilate (furnish with an opening to allow air to circulate or gas to escape)

vivify (make more striking or animated)

vulgarise; vulgarize (debase and make vulgar)

supple (make pliant and flexible)

professionalise; professionalize (make professional or give a professional character to)

smut (make obscene)

still (make motionless)

weaponize (make into or use as a weapon or a potential weapon)

eroticize; sex up (give erotic character to or make more interesting)

piggyback (bring into alignment with)

port (modify (software) for use on a different machine or platform)

lifehack (make one's day-to-day activities more efficient)

cloud (make less clear)

blur; confuse; obnubilate; obscure (make unclear, indistinct, or blurred)

moderate; tame; tone down (make less strong or intense; soften)

obfuscate (make obscure or unclear)

synchronise; synchronize (make (motion picture sound) exactly simultaneous with the action)

mince; moderate; soften (make less severe or harsh)

militarise; militarize (lend a military character to (a country), as by building up a military force)

break down; crush (make ineffective)

fat; fatten; fatten out; fatten up; fill out; flesh out; plump; plump out (make fat or plump)

disturb; touch (tamper with)

dull (make dull in appearance)

blunt; dull (make dull or blunt)

sharpen (make sharp or sharper)

coarsen (make or become coarse or coarser)

loosen (make less dense)

loosen; undo; untie (cause to become loose)

barb (provide with barbs)

string (provide with strings)

straighten; straighten out (make straight)

bring (cause to come into a particular state or condition)

amalgamate; commix; mingle; mix; unify (to bring or combine together or with something else)

charge (fill or load to capacity)

put (cause to be in a certain state; cause to be in a certain relation)

clean; make clean (make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from)

begrime; bemire; colly; dirty; grime; soil (make soiled, filthy, or dirty)

depress; lower (cause to drop or sink)

deform (make formless)

break; break up (destroy the completeness of a set of related items)

alter (make an alteration to)

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

humanise; humanize (make more humane)

humble (cause to be unpretentious)

alienate; disaffect; estrange (arouse hostility or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness)

right (put in or restore to an upright position)

desensitise; desensitize (cause not to be sensitive)

deodorise; deodorize; deodourise (eliminate the odor from)

develop (make visible by means of chemical solutions)

blur (to make less distinct or clear)

blind (make blind by putting the eyes out)

change intensity (increase or decrease in intensity)

change taste (alter the flavor of)

exchange; interchange; replace; substitute (put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items)

capture (bring about the capture of an elementary particle or celestial body and causing it enter a new orbit)

add; bestow; bring; contribute; impart; lend (bestow a quality on)

reestablish; reinstate; restore (bring back into original existence, use, function, or position)

liberalise; liberalize (make liberal or more liberal, of laws and rules)

compensate; correct; redress; right (make reparations or amends for)

democratise; democratize (introduce democratic reforms; of nations)

neutralize (make politically neutral and thus inoffensive)

corrupt; debase; debauch; demoralise; demoralize; deprave; misdirect; pervert; profane; subvert; vitiate (corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality)

loosen; relax (make less severe or strict)

unify; unite (bring together for a common purpose or action or ideology or in a shared situation)

flocculate (cause to become a fluffy or lumpy aggregate)

turn (cause to change or turn into something different;assume new characteristics)

cohere (cause to form a united, orderly, and aesthetically consistent whole)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They change their earnings this year

Derivation:

change (the action of changing something)

change (a thing that is different)

change (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

change (the result of alteration or modification)

change (a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event)

changer (a person who changes something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category

Example:

convert holdings into shares

Synonyms:

change; commute; convert; exchange

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

replace (substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected))

Verb group:

change; shift; switch (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)

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

rectify (convert into direct current)

utilize (convert (from an investment trust to a unit trust))

capitalise; capitalize (convert (a company's reserve funds) into capital)

launder (convert illegally obtained funds into legal ones)

break (exchange for smaller units of money)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They change the money

Sense 5

Meaning:

Remove or replace the coverings of

Example:

After each guest we changed the bed linens

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

replace (substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Change clothes; put on different clothes

Example:

Change before you go to the opera

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

dress; get dressed (put on clothes)

Verb group:

change; shift; switch (lay aside, abandon, or leave for another)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They change

Derivation:

change (a different or fresh set of clothes)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Lay aside, abandon, or leave for another

Example:

The car changed lanes

Synonyms:

change; shift; switch

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Verb group:

change; commute; convert; exchange (exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category)

change (change clothes; put on different clothes)

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

transition (make or undergo a transition (from one state or system to another))

shift (change gears)

break (change suddenly from one tone quality or register to another)

channel-surf; surf (switch channels, on television)

jump; leap (pass abruptly from one state or topic to another)

diphthongise; diphthongize (change from a simple vowel to a diphthong)

cut (make an abrupt change of image or sound)

break (change directions suddenly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 8

Meaning:

Become deeper in tone

Example:

Her voice deepened when she whispered the password

Synonyms:

change; deepen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 9

Meaning:

Change from one vehicle or transportation line to another

Example:

She changed in Chicago on her way to the East coast

Synonyms:

change; transfer

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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

go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence example:

They change

Sense 10

Meaning:

Give to, and receive from, one another

Example:

We have been exchanging letters for a year

Synonyms:

change; exchange; interchange

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

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

transfer (cause to change ownership)

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

sell (exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent)

cash; cash in (exchange for cash)

ransom; redeem (exchange or buy back for money; under threat)

redeem (to turn in (vouchers or coupons) and receive something in exchange)

fill in; stand in; sub; substitute (be a substitute)

swap; switch; swop; trade (exchange or give (something) in exchange for)

barter (exchange goods without involving money)

trade; trade in (turn in as payment or part payment for a purchase)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

Fragmentation changes how ecosystems function, reduces the amounts of nutrients retained and the amount of carbon sequestered and has other deleterious effects.

(Shrinking habitats have adverse effects on world ecosystems, NSF)

The role of climate change in the collapse of Classic Maya civilisation is somewhat controversial, partly because previous records are limited to qualitative reconstructions, for example whether conditions were wetter or drier.

(Scientists measure severity of drought during the Maya collapse, University of Cambridge)

Frontotemporal dementia is a form of dementia that causes changes in personality and behaviour, and language difficulties.

(Mechanism behind neuron death in motor neurone disease and frontotemporal dementia discovered, University of Cambridge)

Recalling a memory, then, opens a window of opportunity for that memory to be changed — what researchers call a "reconsolidation window."

(How Our Memory Works, NIH, US)

The chemical characteristics of polydiacetylene cause it to change its fluorescence pattern when it binds to toxins.

(3-D gel-nanoparticle device detoxifies blood, NIH)

Scientists have discovered the first-ever fossil evidence of monkeys from the North American landmass: a 21-million-year-old specimen that changes our understanding of the biological history of the continent.

(First-ever fossil monkey found in North America, NSF)

In biology, there are many examples where light induces movement or change—think of flowers and leaves turning toward sunlight.

(New Materials Developed by Scientists Able to Move in Response to Light, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The sun and wind had changed her, too.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Some change had come over her body.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

But a change came over the face of the dream, for a dream I told myself it must be.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)