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Definitions

alter

[awl-ter] / ˈɔl tər /
VERB
change
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adjust amend change develop modify reshape revamp revise shift transform vary
STRONG
adapt convert cook diversify doctor metamorphose mutate recast reconstruct refashion reform remodel renovate transmute turn
WEAK
correct mid-course dial back fine tune make different phony up recalibrate
Antonyms
STRONGEST
leave alone remain stagnate stay
WEAK
continue fix keep let stand maintain preserve retain sustain
VERB
sterilize animal
Synonyms
STRONGEST
change fix
STRONG
caponize castrate desexualize emasculate geld mutilate neuter spay unsex
Antonyms
STRONG
breed

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.

This is a more than 40% pay increase, and some people job hop for a lot less than that, but will it meaningfully alter the quality of your life?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

The voluntary retirement program is part of a broader shift to alter Microsoft’s performance system and stock awards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

They can influence the bacterium's properties and, in some cases, alter its behavior.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

The proceedings offer a peek into the lives of America’s growing ranks of millionaires and billionaires, and how wealth can alter the tenor of a marriage and shape its unwinding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

“And yet you took it upon yourself to alter the name in the passport?”

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

Vocabulary lists containing alter

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird

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Commonly Confused Words, List 1

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