vary

Valid in Scrabble

Scrabble points
10
Words With Friends
10
Letters
4
Pronunciation
/ˈvɛəɹi/
See all 11 pronunciations
/ˈvɛəɹi/ · /ˈvɛːɹɪj/ · /ˈvæɹi/ · /ˈvɛɹi/ · /ˈveːɹi/ · /ˈveəɹi/ · /ˈviəɹi/ · /ˈveɾe/ · /ˈveɾɪ/ · /ˈveɾi/ · /ˈvɜːɹɪ/

Definition of vary

9 senses · 2 parts of speech · etymology included

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.”
    “We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.”
See all 9 definitions

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.”
    “We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.”
  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.”
    “[F]ear and anger, vvith alternate Grace, / Pant in her Breaſt, and vary in her Face!”
  4. (intransitive)To display differences.
    “The sprouting tendency of potatoes varies between cultivars, years and places of growing.”
    “In the new layout, it is proposed to provide three island platforms with six platform faces varying from 1,075 to 1,290 ft. in length and including bays.”
  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.
    “God hath[…] varied their inclinations.”
    “God hath here / Varied his bounty so with new delights.”
  7. (transitive)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.
    “the rich jewel which we vary for”

noun

  1. (obsolete, uncountable)alteration; change.
    “With euery gall, and varry of their Masters,”

Definitions from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.

Etymology

From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.

Anagrams of vary

1 play · some not in Scrabble

Words you can make from vary

7 playable · top: RAY (6 pts)

Best play ray 6 points

3-letter words

3 words

2-letter words

3 words

Hooks

1 extension · 1 front

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