modify

Change something, often slightly, to improve it or make it suitable for a different use.

• We need to modify the plan.
• She modified the recipe to use less sugar.
• Can this vehicle be modified for wheelchair users?

How to use it: modify something to do something (They modified the software to run on older computers.); modify something for someone/something (We modified the equipment for younger children.)

Similar words: change, adjust, adapt, alter

Common phrases: modify something, modify a design, modify a plan

Give extra information about another word or group of words in a sentence.

• Adjectives often modify nouns.
• Here, the adverb modifies the verb.
• Which word does this phrase modify?

Similar words: qualify

Common phrases: modify a noun, modify a verb

Change in form or character, without saying who or what causes the change.

• These structures modify under pressure.
• The tissue modifies as the plant grows.
• Its shape modified gradually as conditions changed.

Similar words: change, alter

Common phrases: modify gradually, modify over time