modify

[ mod-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, mod·i·fied, mod·i·fy·ing.

1. to change somewhat the form or qualities of; alter partially; amend:

   to modify a contract.

   Synonyms: reform, shape, adjust, vary

2. Grammar. (of a word, phrase, or clause) to stand in a syntactically subordinate relation to (another word, phrase, or clause), usually with descriptive, limiting, or particularizing meaning; be a modifier. In a good man, good modifies man.
3. to be the modifier or attribute of.
4. to change (a vowel) by umlaut.
5. to reduce or lessen in degree or extent; moderate; soften:

   to modify one's demands.

verb (used without object)

, mod·i·fied, mod·i·fy·ing.

1. to be or become modified.

modify

/ ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to change the structure, character, intent, etc, of
2. to make less extreme or uncompromising

   to modify a demand

3. grammar (of a word or group of words) to bear the relation of modifier to (another word or group of words)
4. linguistics to change (a vowel) by umlaut
5. intr to be or become modified

Derived Forms

• ˌmodiˌfiaˈbility, noun
• ˈmodiˌfiable, adjective

Other Words From

• modi·fia·ble adjective
• modi·fia·bili·ty modi·fia·ble·ness noun
• non·modi·fying adjective
• over·modi·fy verb overmodified overmodifying
• pre·modi·fy verb (used with object) premodified premodifying
• re·modi·fy verb remodified remodifying
• un·modi·fia·ble adjective
• un·modi·fied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of modify¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English modifien, from Middle French modifier, from Latin modificāre “to impose a rule or pattern, regulate, restrain”; equivalent to mode ¹ + -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of modify¹

C14: from Old French modifier, from Latin modificāre to limit, control, from modus measure + facere to make

Synonym Study

Modify, qualify, temper suggest altering an original statement, condition, or the like, so as to avoid anything excessive or extreme. To modify is to alter in one or more particulars, generally in the direction of leniency or moderation: to modify demands, rates. To qualify is to restrict or limit by exceptions or conditions: to qualify one's praise, hopes. To temper is to alter the quality of something, generally so as to diminish its force or harshness: to temper one's criticism with humor.

Example Sentences

“The danger is of animals being thought of as things, units of production, more so than they are now, because we can modify them to make them more amenable to our uses and taking us away from this notion of animals as sentient beings.”

From BBC

“When this change goes into effect on November 7, almost half of Starbucks’ current customers in the U.S. who pay to modify their beverage at company-operated stores will see a price reduction of more than 10%,” the chain said in its announcement.

From Salon

“There is no possibility using current knowledge and technology to use geoengineering to modify hurricanes,” says Suzana Camargo from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.

From BBC

But they, too, rely on Iran to develop, modify and upgrade existing arms and manufacture drones.

From Los Angeles Times

That was over a rear wing McLaren had used in Baku but have decided to modify before its next intended use in Las Vegas in November, following complaints from Red Bull about how it was flexing and conversations with the FIA.

From BBC

Related Words

• adapt
• adjust
• correct
• customize
• repair
• reshape
• revise
• rework
• tweak
• vary