Vary
verb
Base: vary | Past: varied | Past Participle: varied | -ing: varying | 3rd person: varies
Definition
1. To be different from each other.
2. To change or become different over time or conditions.
3. To make something different by introducing changes.
2. To change or become different over time or conditions.
3. To make something different by introducing changes.
Context Alive
The restaurant had locations all over the city, but the experience wasn’t always the same. Quality varied quite a bit depending on which branch you visited. Some were fantastic, while others left a lot to be desired.
Meanings
3 meanings
1
To Be Different from Each Other (Verb)
Very Common
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This meaning is about things of the same type not being the same. Imagine you’re looking for a hotel in a popular city. You check ten different options and notice the prices vary hugely — one costs $80 a night while another charges $400 for a similar room. This is things of the same kind being different from one another. You might hear “opinions vary on this topic” or “class sizes vary from school to school.” Or think about ordering the same dish at different restaurants — the taste and quality will vary depending on where you go. The word points to differences that exist naturally within a group. ✏️ This meaning often appears with words like “widely,” “greatly,” “considerably,” or “enormously” to show how big the differences are.
Vivid ExampleThe couple was apartment hunting in a new city. Rent prices varied dramatically from one neighborhood to the next. A one-bedroom in the city center cost three times more than the same size flat just twenty minutes away.
2
To Change or Become Different Over Time (Verb)
Very Common
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This meaning is about something not staying the same — it shifts or changes depending on conditions. Imagine checking the weather forecast and seeing that temperatures will vary throughout the week — warm on Monday, cold by Wednesday, then warm again on Friday. This is something changing over a period of time. You might say “my energy levels vary throughout the day” or “the quality of service varies depending on how busy they are.” Or think about a student whose grades vary from one semester to the next — sometimes great, sometimes not so much. The word suggests something that goes up and down or shifts regularly. ✏️ This meaning is about the same thing changing over time, while meaning 1 is about different things being different from each other — that’s the key distinction.
Vivid ExampleJake noticed that his sleep quality had been unpredictable lately. Some nights he slept perfectly, but his energy varied so much from day to day that he couldn’t find a pattern. He decided to start tracking his habits to figure out what was going on.
3
To Make Something Different by Introducing Changes (Verb)
Common
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This meaning is about deliberately changing something to avoid keeping it the same. Imagine a fitness trainer telling you to vary your workout routine — instead of running every day, try swimming on Monday, cycling on Wednesday, and lifting weights on Friday. This is intentionally making things different. You might hear “try to vary your diet so you get all the nutrients you need” or “a good teacher varies their methods to keep students engaged.” Or think about a chef who varies the menu every season to keep regular customers interested. The word suggests making smart, intentional changes. ✏️ This is the only meaning where someone is actively doing the changing — in meanings 1 and 2, things vary on their own.
Vivid ExampleThe piano teacher noticed her student was getting bored with the same exercises. She decided to vary the lessons by mixing in some popular songs alongside the classical pieces. The student’s motivation came back almost immediately and practice sessions became fun again.
Examples from the Street
“Prices vary depending on the season — summer is always the most expensive.”
The cost changes according to the time of year — the warm months always cost the most
“The quality of the food there can vary — sometimes it’s amazing, sometimes it’s awful.”
The standard of the meals there is inconsistent — one visit it’s great, the next it’s terrible
“I try to vary my workouts so I don’t get bored.”
I try to change and mix up my exercise routines so they stay interesting
Common Patterns
vary from (place to place / person to person / day to day) → be different depending on the situation, individual, or time
vary depending on / according to something → change based on a particular factor
vary widely/greatly/considerably/enormously → be very different across cases
vary in (size/quality/price/difficulty) → differ in a specific measurable way
vary between (X) and (Y) → range from one amount or extreme to another
results/opinions/experiences vary → outcomes or views differ across different people or situations
vary something → intentionally change or mix things up to avoid sameness
vary your routine/approach/diet → deliberately change what you do to keep things fresh or effective
vary the pace/tone/style → change how fast, serious, or formatted something is to maintain interest
try to vary something → make a conscious effort to introduce change
results may vary → standard disclaimer meaning outcomes differ for each person (very common in advertising)
mileage may vary → informal way of saying your experience might be different from mine
vary little / hardly vary → remain mostly the same with very small differences
Collocations
3 collocationsvary widely
differ a great deal from case to case
vary from person to person
be different depending on who it is
results may vary
outcomes might differ between cases
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Hotel prices vary enormously depending on the time of year — you could pay double in August compared to February
The cost of accommodation changes dramatically based on the season — you might spend twice as much in summer as in winter.
2
The quality of customer service varies from branch to branch — some are excellent, others are hopeless
The standard of how customers are treated differs between locations — certain ones are outstanding, while others are useless.
3
Symptoms vary widely from patient to patient, which makes the condition difficult to diagnose
The signs of the illness differ significantly between one individual and another, making it hard for doctors to identify what’s wrong.
4
Temperatures in the desert vary between 45 degrees during the day and close to freezing at night
Heat levels in the sandy region range from forty-five degrees in daylight hours to nearly zero after dark.
5
She tries to vary her teaching approach each week so that students stay engaged and motivated
She makes a conscious effort to change her instructional methods every week to keep learners interested and driven.
6
The chef likes to vary the menu seasonally, using whatever ingredients are freshest
The cook prefers to change what’s offered at different times of year, working with whatever produce is at its best.
7
Opinions vary on whether remote working is better for productivity — some love it, others hate it
Views differ on whether doing your job from home improves output — certain people are in favour, while others are firmly against it.
8
I’d recommend that restaurant, but results may vary — I’ve heard mixed reviews from other people
I’d suggest trying that eating place, but your experience might be different from mine — I’ve heard a range of opinions from others.
9
The difficulty of the exam varies in each sitting — some years it’s straightforward, other years it’s brutal
How hard the test is changes with each session — in certain years it’s quite manageable, in others it’s extremely tough.
10
He barely varies his routine — he eats the same breakfast, takes the same route, and sits at the same desk every single day
He almost never changes his daily habits — he has an identical morning meal, follows the same path, and uses the same workspace without fail.
Learner Examples
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It’s important to vary the activities in your lessons — too much of the same thing and students lose focus quickly
It’s essential to mix up the tasks in your classes — repeating the same type of exercise causes learners to stop paying attention fast.
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Student performance can vary greatly from one term to the next, depending on how confident they feel in the classroom
How well learners do can change significantly between one academic period and another, based on how self-assured they feel during lessons.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
0 items
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsdiffer
be different
change
become different
fluctuate
go up and down
alternate
switch between
Antonymsstay the same
remain unchanged
remain constant
not change