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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:

But the online attention had yet to alter Walters’ fate.

From Slate Sep. 17, 2026

Still, the health issues that come with age have forced several stars to alter their plans recently.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 16, 2026

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

In that instant, as Daugherty sized up Harding, an idea came to him that would alter American history: Wouldn’t that man make a great President?

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

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

From Salon Sep. 5, 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

I interviewed Christo in 2011, and he was eloquent about how his and his wife’s work alters perceptions of nature, and about the deliberately transient character of the art itself.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 20, 2026

I doubt that I am overstating the case here: our capacity to understand and manipulate human genomes alters our conception of what it means to be “human.”

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Each El Niño of yore that put this broad basin underwater had a different character because each cut loose on an evolving L.A., a place altered in part by floods and changed because of them.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 17, 2026

Warren also raised questions about Taylor Farms’ political contributions and lobbying, though her letter did not establish that those connections altered the government’s response.

From Salon Sep. 13, 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

But now, 25 years on from the 11 September 2001 attacks, there is a new generation, too young to remember the day that permanently altered much of American life.

From BBC Sep. 11, 2026

What would they become, and are these altered chords also likely to be used in the minor key?

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

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

A young man from Modesto heads to USC during the death throes of the studio system and ends up altering the course of Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 8, 2026

Mis-splicing appeared across thousands of genes, potentially altering how important proteins function throughout damaged liver cells.

From Science Daily Aug. 31, 2026

"You did a good job altering the wedding dress, Baba," Turtle said, which made the dressmaker cry even harder.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin




Vocabulary lists containing alter


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