Definition of "vary" in English

verb

1. (transitive) To change with time or a similar parameter.

   • He varies his magic tricks so as to minimize the possibility that any given audience member will see the same trick twice.

2. (transitive) To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.

   • You should vary your diet. Eating just bread will do you harm in the end.
   • a. 1687, Edmund Waller, to Phyllis Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.

3. (intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.

   • His mood varies by the hour.
   • The sine function varies between −1 and 1.

4. (of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.

   • The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.

5. (intransitive) To be or act different from the usual.

   • I'm not comfortable with 3.Nc3 in the Caro-Kann, so I decided to vary and play exd5.

6. (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate.

7. (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.

8. (intransitive, obsolete) To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.

noun

1. (obsolete) alteration; change.