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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:

He also said he saw "no reason" to change Germany's laws on surrogate pregnancy or alter the CDU's longstanding opposition.

From Barron's Jul. 18, 2026

But because he is already serving two consecutive life sentences for related crimes, it will not alter the amount of time he spends in prison.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 18, 2026

The experiments also revealed that changing the shape of the arms can alter and control the water jets.

From Science Daily Jul. 17, 2026

Negotiators after the partial strike ends Wednesday will decide next steps to resolve a monthslong impasse over wages, AI and technologies that could fundamentally alter the future of carmaking.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 15, 2026

The difficulty comes in trying to separate my eyes from my eyebrows, which alter my face much the way that varying punctuation marks can change the meaning of a sentence.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Moreover, the repeal of this rule substantially alters settlement dynamics.

From MarketWatch Jun. 17, 2026

"As climate change alters wind patterns and ocean flows, wind stress and currents could change the direction of energy flux. Understanding the forces that create this change can lead to more accurate models."

From Science Daily Jun. 3, 2026

Much will come out in the exchanges between the accidental roommates that alters our perceptions of both, as well as our view of those offstage personages, living and dead.

From The Wall Street Journal May 28, 2026

But none of this alters the threat to Ukraine.

From BBC May 26, 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

The honorary research fellow at Cardiff University said he was not surprised that young people who grew up in an environment where your actions end up online have altered behaviour.

From BBC Jul. 18, 2026

Geological evidence from impacts more than 650 million years old is scarce because Earth's surface is constantly being altered and recycled.

From Science Daily Jul. 18, 2026

Changes in global temperature affected the size of polar ice sheets, which altered sea level.

From Science Daily Jul. 16, 2026

Years later, Messi acknowledged that the incident had altered the perception some Mexican fans had of him.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 15, 2026

It wasn’t just a cutlery switch; the whole dinner service was altered in a single swoop.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The debate is not about whether AI is real or whether it’s reshaping the U.S. economy by fundamentally altering corporate productivity, capital allocation and the labor market.

From MarketWatch Jul. 20, 2026

The findings, published in Gut Microbes, introduce a new approach to cancer treatment that uses living bacteria to directly target tumors rather than simply altering the gut microbiome.

From Science Daily Jul. 10, 2026

Changes in mortgage rates can make a borrower more or less likely to refinance, altering the projected duration of the loan’s payouts to investors.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 29, 2026

Studies suggest the cold blob influences atmospheric circulation by altering the path and speed of the jet stream that flows west to east across the continent.

From Barron's Jun. 26, 2026

She becomes quite adept at manipulating fabric, altering her gowns as expertly as a master tailor to accommodate the weight she has regained, her body feeling like her own again.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern




Vocabulary lists containing alter


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