change

change

n.

1. The act or fact of altering

   alteration, variation, vicissitude, substitution, swerving, deviation, diversion, shuffling, difference, reconstruction, aberration, evolution, restyling, innovation, move, interchange, trade, switch, fluctuation, wavering, modulation, alternating, exchange, mutation, transformation, transmutation, modification, transition, metamorphosis, transfiguration, reshaping, adoption, transference, reworking, transmogrification, metamorphism, improvisation, revolution, conversion, regeneration, shifting, warping, remodeling, renovation, veering, transubstantiation, shift, reformation, revision, rearrangement, enlargement, renewal, removal, disguising, reversal, about-face, tampering, qualification, turning, metathesis, inflection, vacillation, resolution, metastasis, reorganization; see also variety 1.

   Antonyms constancy*, consistency*, permanence. *

2. An alteration

   modification, correction, remodeling, switch, reformation, reconstruction, shift, difference, reform, conversion, changeover, transformation, tempering, revolution, rearrangement, adjustment, readjustment, reorganization, reshaping, renovation, realignment, redirection, reprogramming, variation, addition, refinement, advance, modulation, development, diversification, turn, turnover, enlargement, revision, qualification, distortion, compression, contraction, telescoping, widening, narrowing, lengthening, flattening, shortening, fitting, setting, adjusting, rounding, getting out of round, ovalization, squaring, getting out of whack*, ups and downs*; see also sense 1.

3. Substitution

   switch, replacement, swap; see exchange 3.

4. Variety

   diversity, novelty, variance; see difference 1, variety 1.

5. Small coins

   pocket money, spending money, pin money, silver, small change, (small) coins, pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, half dollars, chicken feed*; see also money 1.

change

v.

1. To make different

   vary, alter, modify, transform, convert, diversify, turn, modulate, transmute, transfigure, redo, metamorphose, disguise, restyle, revolutionize, reorganize, make over, do over, remake, recondition, remodel, reconvert, refashion, tailor, reform, renew, renovate, recast, revamp, remold, modernize, reconstruct, moderate, temper, adjust, adapt, accommodate, readjust, fine-tune, naturalize, transpose, invert, switch around, reverse, turn upside down, revise, correct, amend, edit, tamper with, make innovations, innovate, render different, translate, mutate, transmogrify, denature, transubstantiate, reshape, inflect, regenerate, improve, worsen, reduce, commute, increase, diminish, intensify, shape, shift, transfer, give a color to, do something about, bring up to date.

   Antonyms maintain, preserve, set, fix.

2. To put in place of another

   exchange, replace, substitute, alternate, switch, interchange, rotate, displace, supplant, transpose, trade, swap*; see also exchange 1, replace 1, substitute 2.

3. To change clothing

   undress, disrobe, dress, make one's toilet; see dress 1.

4. To become different

   alter, vary, fluctuate, vacillate, modify, metamorphose, evolve, be converted, turn into, turn from, resolve into, grow, ripen, mellow, mature, develop, be transformed, reform, moderate, adapt, adjust, mutate, diverge, deviate, shift, veer, swerve, tack, deflect, warp, merge into, shade, cloud, break, graduate, grade, come around, take a new turn, reverse oneself, do an about-face*, flip-flop*, blow hot and cold*; see also sense 1, become 1.

change denotes making or becoming distinctly different and implies either a radical transmutation of character or replacement with something else success changed her; I'll change my shoes; alter implies a more partial change, as in appearance, so that the identity is preserved to alter a garment; vary suggests irregular or intermittent change to vary one's reading; modify implies minor change, often so as to limit or moderate to modify the language of a report; transform implies a change in form and now, usually, in nature or function to transform matter into energy; convert suggests more strongly change to suit a new function to convert a barn into a house