Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for alter.
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.

These processes gradually break down rock and alter its surface.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

The major employee unions could alter the equation if they jump in on Patel’s behalf.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Owen thinks the risk is limited, as many farmers locked in fertilizer purchases last fall and are unlikely to alter planting plans significantly.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The style blends Iranian, Greco-Roman, Germanic and Asian influences into a coherent visual language whose motifs persist even as meanings alter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

The fact that I took it as a matter of course did not alter that any.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway




Vocabulary lists containing alter