Definitions for modify
ˈmɒd əˌfaɪmod·i·fy

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.5 / 2 votes

1. modifyverb

   make less severe or harsh or extreme

   "please modify this letter to make it more polite"; "he modified his views on same-gender marriage"

2. modify, qualifyverb

   add a modifier to a constituent

3. change, alter, modifyverb

   cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

   "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.8 / 5 votes

1. modifyverb

   To make partial changes to.

2. modifyverb

   To be or become modified.

3. Etymology: From modifien, from modifier, from modificare, from modificari, from modus + facere; see mode.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Modifyverb

   Etymology: modifier, French.

   1. To change the form or accidents of any thing; to shape.

   Yet there is that property in all letters, of aptness to be conjoined in syllables and words through the voluble motions of the organs, that they modify and discriminate the voice without appearing to discontinue it. William Holder.

   The middle parts of the broad beam of white light which fell upon the paper, did, without any confine of shadow to modify it, become coloured all over with one uniform colour, the colour being always the same in the middle of the paper as at the edges. Isaac Newton, Opticks.

   2. To soften; to moderate.

   After all this discanting and modifying upon the matter, there is hazard on the yielding side. Roger L'Estrange.

   Of his grace
   He modifies his first severe decree,
   The keener edge of battle to rebate. Dryden.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. modify

   To modify means to change, alter, or adjust something, often with the purpose of improving it or correcting it. This could apply to a wide range of things including behavior, a plan, an object, a project, or a document.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Modifyverb

   to change somewhat the form or qualities of; to alter somewhat; as, to modify a contrivance adapted to some mechanical purpose; to modify the terms of a contract

2. Modifyverb

   to limit or reduce in extent or degree; to moderate; to qualify; to lower

3. Etymology: [F. modifier, L. modificare, modificari; modus limit + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Mode, and -fy.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Modify

   mod′i-fī, v.t. to set bounds to: to moderate: to change the form or quality of: to alter slightly: to vary.—adj. Modifī′able.—n. Modificā′tion, act of modifying or state of being modified: result of alteration or change: changed shape or condition.—adjs. Mod′ificātive, Mod′ificātory, tending to modify: causing change of form or condition.—n. Mod′ifīer. [Fr. modifier—L. modificāre, -ātum—modus, a measure, facĕre, to make.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. modify

   To make a change.

   WE had to modify the data to ensure the outputs were accurate.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 16, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Add
   • Change
   • Grammar

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'modify' in Verbs Frequency: #667

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce modify?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say modify in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of modify in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of modify in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of modify in a Sentence

1. Mark Meadows:

   There's a few things that we're going to try to modify and make sure we get right.

2. David Pekoske:

   TSA looks to provide the level of screening based on the risks that a passenger presents, because those individuals registered into a program and gave us their background information and we did a full background check on them, then we can modify somewhat the security procedures that we use.

3. Quentin Crisp:

   Though intelligence is powerless to modify character, it is a dab hand at finding euphemisms for its weaknesses.

4. Regis Lopez:

   Our results may help to understand the mechanisms of the sleepwalking episodes, we hypothesize that a dissociate state of arousal may modify the components of sleep-wake behavior, consciousness, and also pain perception.

5. Shawn Crispin:

   President Duterte should come down on the side of press freedom and scrap the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, or at least modify the act to ensure that the media can not be hit with bogus incitement charges, the legislation as written is a direct threat to journalists, and should be rejected.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=modify
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Modify
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=modify
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modify
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=modify
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=modify