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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.

The idea is not strict enforcement, but deterrent measures to alter player behaviour.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

That won’t alter the costs dramatically, but increasing the income ever-so-slightly every year will have a positive impact and can create a more psychologically satisfying experience for your fiancée as a landlord.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

By carefully engineering the atomic interactions where two materials come into contact, the team was able to significantly alter the properties of a metallic material.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026

They say the changes will fundamentally alter the outlook for residential mortgage growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 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




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