alter

Compared meaning: to make something different (verb).

比较义项：改变，修改（动词）。

• modify

  Suggests a small, targeted change, often to improve or adjust something; commonly used with plans, designs, recipes, or rules.

  强调小范围、有针对性的改动，通常是为了改进或调整某事物；常用于计划、设计、食谱或规则等场合。

  The engineer modified the design slightly to reduce the car's weight.

  工程师稍微修改了一下设计，以减轻汽车的重量。

• alter 本词

  A more general word for making something different, without implying the change is small or an improvement; often used when circumstances force a change.

  是表示使某事物变得不同的更泛化的词，不暗示改动一定很小或是一种改进；常用于因客观情况被迫做出改变的场合。

  The airline had to alter the flight schedule due to bad weather.

  由于天气恶劣，航空公司不得不更改航班时刻表。

Modify and alter both mean to change something. Modify suggests a small, targeted change, often to improve something, used with plans, designs, or recipes. Alter is more general, meaning making something different, without implying the change is small or an improvement.

两词都表示对事物做出改变，但 modify 强调局部、细微地改动以求改进，程度较轻；alter 泛指使事物变得不同，可大可小，语气更中性、更广泛。此处不比较 alter 在裁缝、变声等语境中的引申用法。

Compared meaning: to become different (verb).

比较义项：变得不同、发生改变（动词）。

• change

  The most common and general word; simply means something becomes different, without indicating whether the change is partial or complete.

  最常用、最通用的词，只是表示某事物变得不同，并不说明这种改变是部分的还是彻底的。

  She decided to change her job after five years there.

  她在那里工作五年后，决定换一份工作。

• vary

  Emphasizes that something differs from one case to another or changes according to a condition, rather than describing a single act of change.

  强调事物之间存在差异，或随某种条件而变化，而不是描述一次具体的改变行为。

  Prices vary depending on the size of the room.

  价格会根据房间的大小而有所不同。

• alter 本词

  Suggests changing certain details or aspects while the basic nature of something stays the same; more formal, often used with plans, documents, or appearance.

  表示只改变某些细节或方面，而整体性质保持不变；语气较正式，常用于计划、文件或外观等方面。

  We had to alter our plans because of the rain.

  由于下雨，我们不得不调整计划。

Change, vary, and alter all mean to become different. Change is the most common word, meaning something becomes different. Vary stresses that something differs from case to case, or changes with a condition. Alter is more formal, meaning certain details change, not the basic nature.

change、vary、alter 在“变得不同”这个意义上相近，但用法有别：change 最常用、最通用，只说明结果不同，不分部分还是彻底；vary 强调事物之间存在差异，或随某种条件而变化，常与 depending on 连用；alter 语气较正式，通常指只改变某些细节或方面，整体性质保持不变。这里不比较 change 表示“兑换；更换（物品）”等其他意义。