Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for alter. Search instead for daltelt.
Definitions
Trivia Time
In Greek mythology, which shape-shifting sea god could alter his appearance at will?

alter

[awl-ter] / ΛˆΙ”l tΙ™r /




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:

Importantly, these modifications do not alter the DNA sequence itself.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026

With a seeming flick of a switch, he has the power to alter the course of a deadly conflict.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

Ever since Uefa announced its plans to alter the format of the Champions League in 2021, the impact on matches has been a hot topic.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Now, he’s going to be applying for British citizenship, a change that could alter his comedic perspective.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

She decided to alter it slightly, to make it more interesting.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Spanish meteorological research group Climatoc-Lab described it as "a manifestation of how global warming alters the hydrological cycle".

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Any analysis that requires drilling or removing part of a specimen permanently alters an object that cannot be replaced.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

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

We have all traveled far to get to this place, though this place alter as our camp alters from shore to ship and our ship shifts on its anchor cable.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Removing MTCH2 altered that control system, allowing mitochondria to increase fatty acid utilization and energy expenditure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

The company has been panned by some academics and scientists, who doubt Colossal’s claims of scientific breakthroughs and warn that introducing heavily genetically altered creatures can cause dangerous ecological disruption.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

Yesterday is about a struggling musician who wakes up one day to find an altered world where no-one has heard of The Beatles.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

The bacterial community exposed to the isosteviol and duloxetine combination showed increased toxicity toward certain host cells and altered the behavior of other cells involved in inflammation and immune responses.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

During the first twelve hours I thought of Mrs. Reed in her last moments; I saw her disfigured and discoloured face, and heard her strangely altered voice.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte BrontΓ«

Fintech founders have caught on to how Americans are altering their financial habits, and they’ve created new products to try to meet the moment.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

"You're altering the microbiome of your gut, and perhaps creating antibiotic resistant bacteria in your body that will fight off the drug therapy the next time you really need it," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

But studies show that infrastructure development and tourism are squeezing its habitat, while increasing noise is altering how it communicates with potential mates and rivals.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

The constant flux of TikTok clips, Instagram reels and YouTube shorts running through our social-media feeds isn’t only zapping our attention spans, it’s altering how we perceive time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Hisao was lean and tough and worked methodically, never altering his pace.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson


Vocabulary lists containing alter

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training