Change: English Vocabulary List

to change the shape or condition of something in a way that is no longer clear or natural

"Heat can distort metal."

"Extreme heat can distort the metal structure, causing it to lose its original shape and integrity over time."

to make very precise adjustments, usually small ones, to improve or perfect something

"He fine tuned the guitar strings."

"The engineer spent hours trying to fine-tune the machine for optimal performance and efficiency."

to make something change from a particular state, condition or position to another

"We will transition now."

"The company is currently transitioning to a new software system which may cause some temporary disruptions in workflow."

to change something in a significant or fundamental way

"The internet revolutionized global communication."

"The invention of the smartphone revolutionized the way people communicate and access information all around the entire world."

to make something steady and prevent it from fluctuating

"The medication stabilizes his blood pressure quickly."

"The doctor gave the patient medication to stabilize his heart rate and prevent further complications from the condition."

to do something in order to make up for a wrongdoing or to make things right

"We need to redress this injustice."

"The new law aims to redress the historical injustices suffered by indigenous people by providing compensation and land rights."

to correct or improve a situation

"The doctor can remedy your condition."

"The doctor prescribed a strong antibiotic to remedy the patient's bacterial infection and help him recover quickly."

to lessen something's seriousness, severity, or painfulness

"We must mitigate the environmental damage."

"The company took immediate steps to mitigate the damage caused by the data breach by notifying affected customers and offering free credit monitoring."

to make a situation less tense or dangerous by calming emotions or reducing the likelihood of conflict or violence

"He defused the tense situation calmly."

"The experienced negotiator was able to defuse the tense hostage situation by calmly talking to the criminal and building trust."

to increase rapidly and dramatically, often referring to prices, numbers, or success

"Prices skyrocketed after the storm."

"The price of gasoline skyrocketed after the announcement of supply cuts by major oil producing countries around the world."

to place limits or boundaries on something to reduce its scope or size

"The company curtailed unnecessary expenses."

"The manager decided to curtail the meeting because everyone was tired and nothing productive was being discussed anymore."

a sudden and significant change or disruption, especially in relation to politics or social conditions

"The war caused a great upheaval."

"The company underwent a major upheaval when the new CEO fired half the managers and completely restructured the organization chart."

the action of making something bigger in size, quantity, or scope

"The enlargement of the photo was clear."

"The enlargement of the European Union brought many new member states into the economic community."

a sudden or abrupt rise in quantity, intensity, or activity

"Sudden surge happened."

"There was a sudden surge in demand for masks during the health crisis last year."

describing something that happens suddenly, often with sharp or noticeable changes

"His departure was abrupt."

"The abrupt ending of the movie left the audience confused and dissatisfied with the story."