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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:

In response, hepatocytes alter their surfaces in ways that allow them to capture more LDL and amyloid beta from the blood.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026

Instead, London is pursuing a "debt reset" plan for the poorest Commonwealth countries, led by former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown and which could alter interest rates on repayments.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

If the truce brought a rare moment of relief to Oleshky, it has done little to alter the wider trajectory of a war that grinds on for now.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

Note to seniors: The recent changes to charitable deductions don’t alter qualified charitable distributions, or QCDs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

But did it significantly alter society’s control over the natural world, or the control of one social group over another?

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

This effectively alters the cosmic ruler used to measure distances and, in turn, the value of the Hubble constant inferred from the model, helping to ease the Hubble tension.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

The bank doesn’t think the announcement materially alters the core investment debate, as investors expected a restructuring would involve substantial charges and write-downs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 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

“Very. But they only increase a Grisha’s power. Jurda parem alters a Grisha’s perception.”

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Trump, a former real estate mogul, has altered the president's official office during his second term, most notably by adding many gold features to its walls.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon in which warm waters pooling in the eastern Pacific and altered wind patterns drive extreme weather events around the world.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

This suggests that collisions may have altered their surfaces much less than expected.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026

Together, they have fundamentally altered the region’s security dynamics, sharply increasing demands on the U.S. and its allies that must track these Chinese movements and be ready to respond.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 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

The former Board of Public Works member suggested that altering the five-member panel should have been its own item, saying, “The longer the paragraphs are, the fewer words the public will read.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

When they divide, the resulting structures may operate differently, altering how efficiently cells produce and consume energy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

The warming phase of a natural climate cycle, El Nino events temporarily elevate global temperatures, altering cloud and wind patterns, and raise the risk of damaging weather.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

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

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

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


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