TOP

Definition of vary verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

        

    vary

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//ˈvɛri//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they vary
     
    ,
     
    he / she / it varies
     
    ,
     
    past simple varied
     
    ,
     
    -ing form varying
     
    ,
     
     
    jump to other results
  1. 1[intransitive] vary (in something) (of a group of similar things) to be different from each other in size, shape, etc. synonym differ The students' work varies considerably in quality. The quality of the students' work varies considerably. New techniques were introduced with varying degrees of success.
  2. 2[intransitive] to change or be different according to the situation vary with something The menu varies with the season. vary according to something Prices vary according to the type of room you need. vary from something to something Pulse rates vary slightly from person to person. vary (between A and B) Class numbers vary between 25 and 30. “What time do you start work?” “It varies.”
  3. 3[transitive] vary something to make changes to something to make it slightly different The job enables me to vary the hours I work. Our aerobics instructor varies the routine each week.
    4. AWL Collocationsvaryvary verbto be different from each other; to become different or to change
    • estimate, opinion, pricing, ratio, result
    • rate, size
    Estimates vary because measurement techniques differ from study to study.
    • considerably, greatly, significantly, substantially
    • widely
    • inversely
    • seasonally
    Spanish is spoken with an accent that varies considerably according to region. The cost of cattle varies inversely with supply.
    • varying degrees
    There are a wealth of resources on the World Wide Web, containing information with varying degrees of accuracy and reliability.variable noun
    • independent, predictor
    • dependent, outcome
    • continuous, categorical
    One predictor variable of early reading success is vocabulary knowledge. In this study, age was measured as a continuous variable ranging from 18 to 70 years. The categorical variables were gender and marital status.variation noun
    • considerable, slight
    • spatial, temporal
    • genetic, geographic, seasonal
    There is considerable variation; what works for one patient does not necessarily work for another. The area has spatial variations in rainfall, with the southern areas receiving more rainfall than central locations.variability noun
    • considerable, substantial
    • climatic, genetic
    Considerable variability in all aspects of testing practices was evident. Wild plant species usually have a great deal of genetic variability.
    • within
    • across, among, between
    There is considerable variability within the group, with some students reading at grade level, and others demonstrating significant reading problems.varied adjective
    • widely
    • immensely, infinitely, richly
    Fibers may be derived from paper, metal, nylon, and other materials having widely varied physical properties. The judicial systems of the rest of the world are immensely varied.variable adjective
    • highly
    Rainfall is highly variable, and the start and end of the two rainy seasons are unreliable.     vary verbvaried adjectivevariable adjectivevariation nounvarious adjectivevariety nounvary verbvaried adjectivevariable adjectivevariation nounvarious adjectivevariety noun
See vary in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: vary

Nearby words