Alter Meaning
/ˈɒl.tə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo change the form or structure of.
verbTo become different.
Sentence Examples
It is not clear whether Lander intended to alter Emmet's style from the beginning.
The slave was anxious to alter his destiny.
Prices did not alter significantly during 2019.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The tailor will ____ the length of the dress to make it fit perfectly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The tailor had to ____ the suit slightly so that it fit me perfectly.
Word Origin & History
From Old French alterer (French altérer), from Medieval Latin alterāre (“to make other”), from Latin alter (“the other”), from al- (seen in alius (“other”), alienus (“of another”), etc.; see alias, alien, etc.) + compar. suffix -ter.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"No power in Venice can alter a decree."
— c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
"Lou's not Times foole, though roſie lips and cheeks
VVithin his bending ſickles compaſſe come,
Loue alters not with his breefe houres and vveekes,
But beares it out euen to the edge of doome:
If this be error and vpon me proued,
I neuer vvrit, nor no man euer loued."
— 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 116”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC, signature H, recto:
"My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 89:34:
"It gilds all objects, but it alters none."
— 1711 May, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Criticism, London: […] W[illiam] Lewis […]; and sold by W[illiam] Taylor […], T[homas] Osborn[e] […], and J[ohn] Graves […], →OCLC:
"[…] Passing the song of the hermit bird and the tallying song of my soul, / Victorious song, death’s outlet song, yet varying ever-altering song, […]"
— 1865, Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d and other poems:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The tailor will ____ the length of the dress to make it fit perfectly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The tailor had to ____ the suit slightly so that it fit me perfectly.