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Definitions

alter

[awl-ter] / ˈɔl tər /




Usage

What is another way to say alter? To alter is to make some partial change, as in appearance, while still preserving the identity: to alter a dress, as by raising the hem (to change a dress would mean to put on a different one). To change is to make a material difference so that something is distinctly different from what it was: to change one's opinion. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Voluntary standards would primarily raise costs for participating laboratories, government rules could alter competition between companies and jurisdictions, and an enforceable industrywide agreement would have the broadest implications for chip demand and capital spending.

From MarketWatch Sep. 15, 2026

Xinyue Lu, a doctoral student in Computational Biology who co-led the research, described the system as a computational test bed that can be used to explore how changes in genome folding might alter gene activity.

From Science Daily Sep. 13, 2026

Open AI models are, by definition, harder to control, as users can alter their parameters -- potentially for malicious purposes.

From Barron's Sep. 13, 2026

Rapid searches, repeated refreshing, blocking scripts or cookies, and privacy tools that alter browser settings can have a similar effect.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 8, 2026

Volpe arranged to alter the rehearsal schedule so his Jesus would miss only a small portion of each week’s wrestling practices.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

In her version, Bernhard alters the lyrics to pay tribute to Sylvester, whose untimely death left an immense legacy.

From Salon Sep. 5, 2026

Infant formula is designed to provide the correct balance of nutrients for babies when mothers cannot or choose not to breastfeed, and adding extra water alters that balance.

From BBC Aug. 16, 2026

The change significantly alters the players’ preparation, starting with meal times, Aguirre told Mexican radio.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 3, 2026

Because Donaldjohanson's shape is uneven, those tiny forces do not cancel out completely and instead create a twisting effect that gradually alters the asteroid's rotation.

From Science Daily Jun. 25, 2026

Much as a real mirror introduces changes of its own and does not reflect the simple truth, so this one alters the way the girl looks, revealing a deeper reality.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

That our faces can, with new medical and cosmetic technology, be altered only further intensifies this tension.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 15, 2026

On the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, we’re reflecting on how the tragedy permanently altered the media landscape and digital communications.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 11, 2026

The warming generated a Rossby wave train that traveled toward the continent, helped establish a north-south circulation pattern over East Antarctica, altered the movement of moisture, and increased regional snowfall.

From Science Daily Sep. 6, 2026

What’s even more frustrating is that, when it was first announced, the Met said the exhibition would address the derogatory conduct that fundamentally altered Galliano’s career and reception.

From Salon Sep. 5, 2026

The Anubis figure, for example, would make no sense as a dog god, so Artemis altered it to read king of the fairies.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Experts estimated that close to 400,000 people remain at risk from a myriad of life altering ailments.

From Salon Sep. 11, 2026

This includes for things like replacing windows or altering roofs.

From BBC Sep. 9, 2026

This largely involved using different weighted bats designed to teach players how to move their bodies faster without altering their core swing mechanics.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 1, 2026

New research suggests the gene variant may begin altering brain activity well before memory problems become noticeable.

From Science Daily Aug. 23, 2026

They were altering their course, bearing straight down on the Astrea.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham




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