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Definitions
Trivia Time
In Greek mythology, which shape-shifting sea god could alter his appearance at will?

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:

Events cannot alter the movement of visitors, wildlife or traffic, close roads or trails, or take place in designated wilderness areas.

From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026

Parents had arrived equipped with sandwiches, books, playing cards and colouring paper to entertain their children during the wait for the pope on his way to a makeshift alter down the road.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

The departure of Guardiola and the arrival of Enzo Maresca is not expected to alter the club's approach significantly.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

That shift doesn’t alter the company’s overall earnings “yield,” or the inverse of its price-to-earnings ratio.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Meanwhile, Penelope had returned to wearing her comfortable brown governess dresses, although she did ask that Madame LePoint alter them slightly.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Whether the latest upswing in crude prices alters their longer-term outlook remains to be seen, as Brent’s return to triple digits sends government bond yields higher.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

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

Prolonged heat exposure alters development and threatens long-term population stability.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026

“None of this alters the validity of the work done with HeLa cells,” she wrote, “but it may be worth noting—for the record.”

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Japanese cooks are working with a brand-new selection of seafood, since El Nino has altered ocean migratory routes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

With that in mind, the change in manager has not drastically altered the way City's data department approach their work.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Its members believed the dates had already been established by God during the Creation of the world and therefore should not be altered by people.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

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

I might take to gardening myself, and in time have one or two things altered.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

They also need to understand whether altering Menin or supplementing D-serine could produce unintended effects.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026

Two of Ballmer’s top executives were also sanctioned, altering the way the team will have to operate moving forward.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

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

‘If you mean, inventing all that about a “present”, well, I thought the true story much more likely, and I couldn’t see the point of altering it at all.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien




Vocabulary lists containing alter


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