varied

[ vair-eed ]

adjective

1. characterized by or exhibiting variety; various; diverse; diversified:

   varied backgrounds.

2. changed; altered:

   a varied estimate.

3. having several different colors; variegated.

varied

/ ˈvɛərɪd /

adjective

1. displaying or characterized by variety; diverse
2. modified or altered

   the amount may be varied without notice

3. varicoloured; variegated

Derived Forms

• ˈvariedly, adverb
• ˈvariedness, noun

Other Words From

• varied·ly adverb
• varied·ness noun
• non·varied adjective
• un·varied adjective
• well-varied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of varied¹

First recorded in 1580–90; vary + -ed ²

Example Sentences

By the beginning of the Cambrian explosion of multicellular organisms about 540 million years ago, the ancestors of today’s ecdysozoans were already alive and varied in form and behavior, suggesting they arose even earlier.

From Science Magazine

In another year of wildly varied animated features, Japan, Australia, Great Britain and the planet Cybertron send us their best.

From Los Angeles Times

“I felt his music was complex, beautiful, harmonically and textually varied,” says Coppola, “and interesting.”

From Los Angeles Times

The sauce or dressing varieties are just as varied as ketchup, sweet mustard, spicy mustard, garlic and, the most popular, French dressing.

From Salon

The effects of sedentary time varied by outcome.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• diverse
• mixed
• motley
• various