mod·i·fy
ˈmä-də-ˌfī
modified; modifying
1
: to make less extreme : moderate
… traffic rules were modified to let him pass …—Van Wyck Brooks
2
a
: to limit or restrict the meaning of especially in a grammatical construction
In the phrase "the red hat," the adjective "red" modifies the noun "hat."
b
: to change (a vowel) by umlaut
3
a
: to make minor changes in
had to modify his plan
modified the recipe by using oil instead of butter
b
: to make basic or fundamental changes in often to give a new orientation to or to serve a new end
the wing of a bird is an arm modified for flying
: to undergo change
mod·i·fi·abil·i·ty
¦mä-də-ˌfī-ə-¦bi-lə-tē
: the capability of being modified
this modifiability is one of the intrinsic qualities of living protoplasm—J. S. Shrike
Cite this Entry
“Modify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modify. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
