different between vary vs substitute

English

Etymology

From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin vari? (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?v???i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?v???i/, /?væ?i/, /?v??i/
• (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
• (Mary–marry–merry merger)
• Rhymes: -???i
• Homophone: very (accents with the Mary-marry-merry merger)

Verb

vary (third-person singular simple present varies, present participle varying, simple past and past participle varied)

1. (transitive) To change with time or a similar parameter.
   • 1695, John Dryden (translator), Observations on the Art of Painting by Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy

     We are to vary the customs according to the time and country where the scene of action lies.

2. (transitive) To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.
   • a. 1687, Edmund Waller, to Phyllis

     Gods, that never change their state, / Vary oft their love and hate.

3. (intransitive) Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.

   • While fear and anger, with alternate grace, / Pant in her breast, and vary in her face.

4. (of the members of a group, intransitive) To display differences.
5. (intransitive) To be or act different from the usual.

6. (transitive) To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversity; to variegate.
7. (transitive, music) To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
8. (intransitive, obsolete) To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.
   • 1623, John Webster, The Devil's Law Case

     the rich jewel which we vary for

Synonyms

• (institute a change in): alter, change; See also Thesaurus:alter
• (not to remain constant): fluctuate
• (display differences): See also Thesaurus:differ
• (make of different kinds): See also Thesaurus:diversify
• (disagree): dissent, take exception

Derived terms

• varisome

Translations

Noun

vary (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) alteration; change.

Related terms

Further reading

• vary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• vary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• arvy

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?var?]

Noun

vary

1. nominative/accusative/vocative/instrumental plural of var

Malagasy

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *b??as, from Proto-Austronesian *b??as.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /var?/

Noun

vary

1. rice ((raw) seeds used as food)

English

Etymology

From Middle English substituten, from Latin substitutus, past participle of substitu?.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?s?bst?t?u?t/, /?s?bst?tju?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?s?bst?tut/, /?s?bst?tjut/
• Hyphenation: sub?sti?tute
• Rhymes: -u?t

Verb

substitute (third-person singular simple present substitutes, present participle substituting, simple past and past participle substituted)

1. (transitive) To use in place of something else, with the same function.

   I had no shallots so I substituted onion.

2. (transitive, in the phrase "substitute X for Y") To use X in place of Y.

   I had to substitute new parts for the old ones.

3. (transitive, formerly proscribed, in the phrase "substitute X with/by Y") To use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y.

   I had to substitute old parts with the new ones.

4. (transitive, sports) To remove (a player) from the field of play and bring on another in his place.

   He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes
5. (intransitive) To serve as a replacement (for someone or something).
   • 1987, James Tobin, Essays in Economics, Vol. 2, p. 75

     Accumulation of wealth by this route may substitute for personal saving.

Usage notes

The verb "to substitute" can be used transitively in two opposite ways. "To substitute X" may mean either "use X in place of something else" (as in definitions 1 and 2), or "use something else in place of X" (as in definitions 3 and 4). The latter use is more recent, but it is widespread and now generally accepted (see the COED's note on the matter). However, if the indirect object (the "something else") is omitted, the preposition is also omitted, and the reader or hearer cannot tell which sense is meant:

• "Substitute butter for olive oil" = Use butter instead of olive oil
• "Substitute butter with olive oil" = Use olive oil instead of butter
• "Substitute butter" = ???

Synonyms

• (to replace X with Y): exchange, swap; See also Thesaurus:switch

Translations

Noun

substitute (plural substitutes)

1. A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.

   Synonyms: surrogate; see also Thesaurus:substitute

   • 1840, Thomas De Quincey, Theory of Greek Tragedy (published in Blackwood's Magazine)

     Ladies [in Shakespeare's age] […] wore masks as the sole substitute known to our ancestors for the modern parasol.
2. (sports) A player who is available to replace another if the need arises, and who may or may not actually do so.
3. (historical) One who enlists for military service in the place of a conscript.
4. (economics) Abbreviation of substitute good.

Translations

Latin

Participle

substit?te

1. vocative masculine singular of substit?tus