Word
modify
Phoneticsmod·i·fy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɑdəˌfaɪ/
UK/mˈɒdɪfˌaɪ/
Definitions
01to change slightly
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to make small changes to something, usually to improve it or make it fit a new situation.
v. to make partial changes to something in order to improve it or make it less extreme. Transitive — requires a direct object.
“The engineers had to modify the car's design to make it safer for passengers.”
“The software developers had to modify the existing source code to ensure compatibility with the latest operating system update.”
Usage
Often used in technical or formal contexts regarding plans, designs, or laws.
02to describe or limit a word
C1 · Advanced Grammar Academic · Technical
v. to change or add to the meaning of another word.
v. to qualify or limit the meaning of a word or phrase by providing additional information. Transitive — the subject is usually a grammatical unit like an adjective or adverb.
“In the phrase 'red apple', the adjective 'red' modifies the noun 'apple'.”
“Adverbs typically modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to provide specific details regarding time, manner, or place.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes the word being described as its object.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “modify” in context.
Adverb
01. slightly modify
“We had to slightly modify the original plans to fit within the new budget.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Jayanti modifies root words from Sanskrit with prefixes and suffixes to arrive at the translation.” “One solution to this problem is to modify mRNA’s building blocks – specifically, changing the U, or uridine, to its chemical cousins, pseudouridine and N1-methylpseudouridine .” Etymology
From Middle English modifien, from Middle French modifier, from Latin modificare (“to limit, control, regulate, deponent”), from modificari (“to measure off, set bound to, moderate”), from modus (“measure”) + facere (“to make”); see mode.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/modify