- 1 [intransitive] vary (in something) (of a group of similar things) to be different from each other in size, shape, etc. The students' work varies considerably in quality. The quality of the students' work varies considerably. New techniques were introduced with varying degrees of success. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbconsiderably, dramatically, enormously, … verb + varycan, may, be likely to, … prepositionaccording to, by, depending on, … phrasesvary over time, vary with time See full entry
- 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 require. 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.’ Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbconsiderably, dramatically, enormously, … verb + varycan, may, be likely to, … prepositionaccording to, by, depending on, … phrasesvary over time, vary with time See full entry
- 3 [transitive] vary something to make changes to something to make it slightly different The job enables me to vary the hours I work. The aerobics instructor varies the routine each week. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbconsiderably, dramatically, enormously, … verb + varycan, may, be likely to, … prepositionaccording to, by, depending on, … phrasesvary over time, vary with time See full entry Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French varier or Latin variare, from varius ‘diverse’ .Word Familyvary verbvaried adjectivevariable adjectivevariation nounvarious adjectivevariety nounExtra examples Costs are likely to vary depending on where you live. Dictionaries are produced with specific markets in mind, and their contents vary accordingly. Gender roles vary across cultures. Its speed varies from 20 mph to 35 mph. Personal preference naturally varies. Prices can vary enormously. Services offered vary among the main banks. The availability of good medical care tends to vary inversely with the need for it. The danger of a heart attack varies with body weight. The doses used for surgical anaesthesia vary between 2 and 10mg/kg. The doses used vary between 2 and 10mg/kg. The drug is available in several forms, and dosages vary accordingly. The leaf’s size varies widely according to the area where it grows. The rate of growth varies considerably between different industries. The rooms vary in size. The situation varies slightly from country to country. The speed of the car hardly varied. The sword hardly varied in form from the 12th to the 15th century. Voting behaviour varies geographically. Voting patterns vary geographically. What can be found will inevitably vary according to the area under study. a study of how moral values vary over time studying moral values and how they vary over time the continuously varying intensities of natural light ‘What time do you start work?’ ‘ It varies. ’ The quality of the students’ work varies considerably.
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BrE BrE//ˈveəri//; NAmE NAmE//ˈveri//, NAmE//ˈværi//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they vary BrE BrE//ˈveəri//; NAmE NAmE//ˈveri//, NAmE//ˈværi//
he / she / it varies BrE BrE//ˈveəriz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈveriz//, NAmE//ˈværiz//
past simple varied BrE BrE//ˈveərid//; NAmE NAmE//ˈverid//, NAmE//ˈværid//
past participle varied BrE BrE//ˈveərid//; NAmE NAmE//ˈverid//, NAmE//ˈværid//
-ing form varying BrE BrE//ˈveəriɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈveriɪŋ//, NAmE//ˈværiɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: vary
