varies
B2Neutral
Definition
Meaning
to be different, to change in form, amount, or nature.
To cause something to be different; to make a series of changes or alterations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Varies" is the third-person singular present tense of the verb "vary." It is used to describe a state of change or difference over time, space, or among different instances. It implies a lack of uniformity or consistency.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Minor spelling differences appear in related words (e.g., variation, variable).
Connotations
Neutral in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American academic writing according to corpus data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] varies [from X to Y / across/among/between Z].[Subject] varies [with/according to/depending on] [Factor].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Varies from pillar to post (rare, meaning: changes constantly and unpredictably).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe fluctuations in prices, demand, or performance metrics. (e.g., 'Quarterly revenue varies by region.')
Academic
Common in scientific and statistical contexts to describe differences in data. (e.g., 'The sample size varies across the study groups.')
Everyday
Used for discussing differences in personal preferences, weather, or routines. (e.g., 'Her mood varies from day to day.')
Technical
In mathematics and physics, describes a relationship where one quantity changes in proportion to another.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The train timetable varies at weekends.
- Her accent varies depending on whom she's speaking to.
- The cost of the repair varies considerably from one garage to another.
American English
- The dress code varies by restaurant.
- The answer varies depending on who you ask.
- Application processing time varies by state.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The weather varies a lot in spring.
- The price of fruit varies in different shops.
- Her work schedule varies from week to week.
- The recipe says cooking time may vary with your oven.
- The company's policy on remote work varies by department.
- The effectiveness of the treatment varies significantly among patients.
- The interpretation of the law varies widely across jurisdictions.
- The insect's coloration varies as an adaptive response to its habitat.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'VARIES' has 'var' like 'variable' - something that changes.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS MOTION (e.g., 'prices vary up and down'), DIVERSITY IS A SPECTRUM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of Russian 'меняется/разнится' as 'changes/differs' where 'varies' is more idiomatic for systematic or proportional change. Don't confuse with 'very'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'The temperature varies *from* hot and cold.' Correct: '...varies *between* hot and cold' or '...*from* hot *to* cold.'
- Incorrect subject-verb agreement: 'The quality vary...' instead of 'The quality varies...'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'varies' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily intransitive (e.g., 'The temperature varies.'). It can be used transitively in the sense of 'to make diverse' but this is less common (e.g., 'She varies her workout routine.').
'Changes' is more general. 'Varies' often implies change within a range, according to a pattern, or in comparison to other things. It emphasizes diversity or lack of uniformity.
Common patterns: 'varies from...to...' (range), 'varies between/among...' (groups), 'varies with...' (a factor), 'varies by...' (category), and 'varies across...' (different areas).
In informal speech, yes. More formally, it would be 'It varies from person to person' or 'It varies among people.'