Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

change

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
noun American English pronunciation: change /tʃeɪndʒ/ 
Word Forms
Close
singularchange
pluralchanges
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [countable] a situation in which something becomes different or you make something different

    A number of significant changes have taken place since the 1960s.

    change in:

    a change in the law

    change to:

    The report proposes some fundamental changes to the Social Security system.

    undergo a change:

    The computer industry has undergone enormous changes in the last 20 years.

    make a change:

    We made a few changes to the schedule for tomorrow's meeting.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
    1. a.
      [uncountable] the process by which things become different

      Older people sometimes find it hard to accept change.

      a conference on climate change

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
  2. 2
    [countable] a situation in which one person or thing is replaced by another
    change of:

    There's been a change of plans.

    a change of address

    change from:

    the change from military to civilian rule

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
  3. 3
    [singular] a new activity or experience that is different and enjoyable
    change from:

    Everyone needs a change from the same old routine.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
  4. 4
    [uncountable] the money that someone gives back to you when you give more money than it costs to buy something

    Here's your change.

    keep the change:

    They told the cab driver to keep the change.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
    1. a.
      coins instead of bills

      I'm sorry I don't have any change.

      in change:

      He had about $5 in change.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
      See also  loose change, small change
    2. b.
      if you have change for a bill or coin of high value, you have bills or coins of lower value that you can exchange for it
      change for:

      Do you have change for a ten-dollar bill?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change
  5. 5
    [countable] a part of a trip when you leave one airplane, train, bus, etc. to get on another

    The trip takes five hours, with a change in Dallas.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of change

phrases

See also

This is the American English definition of change. View British English definition of change.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

 

charticle

a news article that consists of a chart … and only has a small amount of text

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

proton

the part of the nucleus of an atom that has a positive electrical charge

Open Dictionary

never event

an event that should never occur in a healthcare setting …

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog