Vary Varying Varied Class Size Considerably Adjective Slightly

• new techniques were introduced with varying degrees of success.
• estimates of how many civilians were killed varied widely.
• class size varies greatly.
• the students' work varies considerably in quality.

vary

Word Family

• vary verb
• varied adjective
• variable adjective
• variation noun
• various adjective
• variety noun

Verb Forms

1. to be different from each other in size, shape, etc.
• New techniques were introduced with varying degrees of success.
• Estimates of how many civilians were killed varied widely.
• Class size varies greatly.
• The students' work varies considerably in quality.
• The rooms vary in size.
• There are a number of routes to the summit, with varying levels of difficulty.

Extra Examples

• Personal preference naturally varies.
• Services offered vary among the main banks.
• The sword hardly varied in form from the 12th to the 15th century.
• Gender roles vary across cultures.
• The doses used vary between 2 and 10mg/kg.
2. to change or be different according to the situation
• The menu varies with the season.
• Cancer rates vary significantly by gender and ethnicity.
• Results can vary greatly from year to year.
• Pulse rates vary slightly from person to person.
• Class numbers vary between 25 and 30.
• Costs are likely to vary depending on where you live.
• ‘What time do you start work?’ ‘It varies.’
• Prices vary according to the type of room you require.

Extra Examples

• Dictionaries are produced with specific markets in mind, and their contents vary accordingly.
• Its speed varies from 20 mph to 35 mph.
• Prices can vary enormously.
• The danger of a heart attack varies with body weight.
• The availability of good medical care tends to vary inversely with the need for it.
• The drug is available in several forms, and dosages vary accordingly.
• The leaf's size varies widely according to the area where it grows.
• The rate of growth varies considerably between different industries.
• The situation varies slightly from country to country.
• The speed of the car hardly varied.
• Voting patterns vary geographically.
• Voting behaviour varies geographically.
• What can be found will inevitably vary according to the area under study.
• a study of how moral values vary over time
• the continuously varying intensities of natural light
3. to make changes to something to make it slightly different
• The job enables me to vary the hours I work.
• The aerobics instructor varies the routine each week.
• Consumers may apply to the lender to vary the terms of their contract.
• Drivers need to take note of the weather conditions and vary their speed accordingly.
4. used to say that people may experience a particular thing in different ways
• Highly recommend the company! Of course, your mileage may vary.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French varier or Latin variare, from varius ‘diverse’ .