vary

/ˈvɛəɹi/

//ˈvɛəɹi// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"vary" is a 4-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“vary” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,724 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,724
frequency rank, English
4
letters
6
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To change with time or a similar parameter.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

vary vs VR
0% similar
vary vs vat
50% similar
vary vs vas
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for vary
PropertyValue
Headwordvary
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈvɛəɹi/
Letters4
Frequency rank#4,724
Misspellings tracked6
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vary” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). vary lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for vary is 4 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvɛəɹi/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,724 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 6 likely wrong-spelling variants for vary, with forms such as "avry", "varry", and "varyy". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "VR", "vat", "vas", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various. The correct English form is vary, spelled V-A-R-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    To change with time or a similar parameter.
  2. 2
    To institute a change in, from a current state; to modify.
  3. 3
    Not to remain constant: to change with time or a similar parameter.
  4. 4
    To display differences.
  5. 5
    To be or act different from the usual.
  6. 6
    To make of different kinds; to make different from one another; to diversify; to variegate.
  7. 7
    To embellish; to change fancifully; to present under new aspects, as of form, key, measure, etc. See variation.
  8. 8
    To disagree; to be at variance or in dissension.

Etymology

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

Synonyms

alterchangefluctuatedissenttake exception

This word in other languages

variar(Español)varier(Français)variieren(Deutsch)variar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: avry,varry,varyy,vayr,vray,vvary

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of vary - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

avry2varry1varyy1vayr2vray2vvary1
Edit distance from "vary"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "vary"?
"vary" is spelled V-A-R-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvɛəɹi/.
What does "vary" mean?
As a verb, "vary" means: To change with time or a similar parameter.
What words are commonly confused with "vary"?
"vary" is commonly confused with "VR", "vat", "vas". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "vary"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vary" is /ˈvɛəɹi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "vary"?
From Middle English varien, from Old French varier, from Latin variō (“to change, alter, make different”), from varius (“different, various”); see various. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “vary”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is V-A-R-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvɛəɹi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “VR” - see the side-by-side comparison. vary vs VR
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list