change

CHAYNJ/t͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒ/

Pluralchanges

Verbchanges, changing, changed

15 meanings of change

Practice

1
alterationnouncountable or uncountable
The act of becoming different, or one time when something becomes different.
Change can be hard for young children.
Everyone on the team welcomed the change.
UsageSay make a change or a change in something.
Similartransformation, alteration, shift, evolution
Oppositestability, continuity
Note
2
verbtransitive
To make something different, or to become different.
Like turning water into ice by freezing it.
She changed the recipe to use less sugar.
Adding salt can change the flavor of a dish completely.
UsageYou change something, or something changes.
Similaralter, modify, transform, adjust, shift
Oppositekeep, preserve, maintain
3
verbtransitive
To take one thing away and put another in its place.
I need to change the batteries in the remote.
He changed the light bulb in the hallway.
UsageThe thing after change is what you replace: change a lightbulb, change the oil.
Similarreplace, switch, swap
Oppositekeep, retain
Note
4
new clothesverbintransitive
To put on different clothes, or to put clean clothes or a clean diaper on someone such as a baby.
Let me change before we go out.
She changed quickly after the game.
UsageSay get changed or change into jeans.
5
verbtransitive
To give money and get back the same amount in a different kind of money or in smaller coins or bills.
Can you change a twenty so I can pay for parking?
We changed our pesos back into dollars at the airport.
Similarexchange, convert, break
Note

Less common meanings

6
noununcountable
The money you get back when you pay more than something costs.
She gave me my change after I paid for the coffee.
Don't forget to count your change before you leave.
UsageSay keep the change.
7
coinsnoununcountable
Coins or small amounts of money, or smaller money given for a large bill.
Like the coins you find at the bottom of your bag.
I keep my change in a jar by the door.
Do you have any change for the parking meter?
UsageSay some change or exact change.
Similarcoins
Note
8
nouncountable
A switch of one person or thing for another, or something you use in place of another.
Pack a change of clothes in case you get wet at the lake.
A change at quarterback gave the team new energy.
UsageSay a change of clothes.
Similarreplacement, substitution, substitute
Note
9
switch trainsverbintransitive
To get off one bus or train and onto another to keep going on a trip.
Like switching from one ride to another partway through a journey.
We had to change at the central station.
You will change twice before you reach the airport.
UsageSay change at a station, or change trains.
Similartransfer
Note
10
a connectionnouncountable
A move from one bus or train to another during a trip.
The trip involves one change at the main station.
The trip to the airport takes an hour with one change downtown.
Similartransfer, connection
11
tradeverbarchaic
To give one thing and take another in return.
At the first sight / they have changed eyes. (exchanged looks)
1610, William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”Here, changed means exchanged, so they traded looks with each other.
I would give any thing to change a word or two with this person.
1662, Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Dialogue 2)Here, change means exchange, so to trade a few words with this person.
Note
12
slow pitchnouncountable or uncountable
A slow baseball pitch thrown to look like a fast one and fool the batter.
Like pretending to throw a ball hard, then letting it go slow to trick someone.
The pitcher fooled the batter with a perfect change.
He threw a change on the next pitch.
Similarchangeup
Note
13
pubnoundatedScotlandcountable or uncountable
A place where people go to buy and drink beer, like a pub.
Similarpub, tavern, inn, alehouse
Note
14
verb
To turn a horse so it travels the other way while you ride.
15
noun
An order for ringing a set of bells that is different from going straight down the scale.

Practice

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Origin

It came through Old French from Latin words meaning "to exchange or barter." English has used it since the 1200s.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

Change came through Old French from Latin words meaning “to exchange or barter.” en.wiktionary.org
English has used change since the 1200s. en.wiktionary.org