alter verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of alter verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

alter

verb
 
/ˈɔːltə(r)/
 
/ˈɔːltər/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they alter
 
/ˈɔːltə(r)/
 
/ˈɔːltər/
he / she / it alters
 
/ˈɔːltəz/
 
/ˈɔːltərz/
past simple altered
 
/ˈɔːltəd/
 
/ˈɔːltərd/
past participle altered
 
/ˈɔːltəd/
 
/ˈɔːltərd/
-ing form altering
 
/ˈɔːltərɪŋ/
 
/ˈɔːltərɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive, transitive] to become different; to make somebody/something different
    • Prices did not alter significantly during 2019.
    • He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him.
    • alter somebody/something His actions that day altered my perception of him.
    • The landscape has been radically altered by changes in the climate.
    • He has the power to fundamentally alter the course of history.
    • She didn't alter her behaviour in any way.
    • Nothing can alter the fact that we are to blame.
    • The recipe has been altered to suit American tastes.
    • Fame hasn't really altered her.
    see also mind-altering
    Extra Examples
    • It doesn't alter the way I feel.
    • This incident altered the whole course of events.
    • The party's policies have hardly altered, but public opinion has.
    • This development will alter the character of the town.
    • This law needs to be altered.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • completely
    • considerably
    • dramatically
    phrases
    • not alter the fact that
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] alter something to make changes to a piece of clothing so that it will fit you better
    • We can have the dress altered to fit you.
  3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French alterer, from late Latin alterare, from Latin alter ‘other’.
See alter in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee alter in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
champion
noun
 
 
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