change

verb

OPAL WOPAL S

/tʃeɪndʒ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they change	/tʃeɪndʒ/ /tʃeɪndʒ/
he / she / it changes	/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/ /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/
past simple changed	/tʃeɪndʒd/ /tʃeɪndʒd/
past participle changed	/tʃeɪndʒd/ /tʃeɪndʒd/
-ing form changing	/ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/ /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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become/make different

[intransitive] to become different

Rick hasn't changed. He looks exactly the same as he did at school.
We examined changing attitudes towards education.
The company failed to adapt to changing circumstances.
Things have changed dramatically since then.
Her life changed completely when she won the lottery.
change with something My attitude to life has changed with age.

replace

[transitive] to replace one thing, person, service, etc. with something new or different

change somebody/something I want to change my doctor.
I didn't change my name when I got married.
That back tyre needs changing.
We change our car every two years.
The law was changed in 2001.
Don't change the subject!
change A for B We changed the car for a bigger one.
change A to B She changed her name to his.

exchange

[transitive] (used with a plural object) to exchange positions, places, etc. with somebody else, so that you have what they have, and they have what you have

change something At half-time the teams change ends.
We asked the waiter if we could change tables.
change something with somebody Can I change seats with you?

money

[transitive] to exchange money into the money of another country

change something I need to change some euros.
change A into B to change dollars into yen

Topics Moneya1

[transitive] to exchange money for the same amount in different coins or notes

change something Can you change a £20 note?
change A for/into B The storekeeper changed my dollar bill for four quarters.

Topics Moneya2

goods

[transitive] (British English) to exchange something that you have bought for something else, especially because there is something wrong with it; to give a customer a new item because there is something wrong with the one they have bought

change A for B This shirt I bought's too small—I'll have to change it for a bigger one.
Of course we'll change it for a larger size, Madam.
change something If you bring the dress back with the receipt, you can change it.

bus/train/plane

[intransitive, transitive] to go from one bus, train, etc. to another in order to continue a journey

Where do I have to change?
Change at Reading (for London).
change something I stopped in Moscow only to change planes.

Topics Transport by bus and traina2, Transport by aira2

clothes

[intransitive, transitive] to put on different or clean clothes

I went into the bedroom to change.
change into something She changed into her swimsuit.
change out of something You need to change out of those wet things.

change something

(especially North American English) I didn't have time to change clothes before the party.
(especially British English) I didn't have time to get changed before the party (= to put different clothes on).

baby

[transitive] change somebody/something to put clean clothes or a clean nappy on a baby

She can't even change a nappy.
The baby needs changing.
There are baby changing facilities in all our stores.

bed

[transitive] change something to put clean sheets, etc. on a bed

to change the sheets
Could you help me change the bed?

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French change (noun), changer (verb), from late Latin cambiare, from Latin cambire ‘barter’, probably of Celtic origin.

Idioms

change hands

to pass to a different owner
- The house has changed hands several times.

change horses in midstream

to change to a different or new activity while you are in the middle of something else; to change from supporting one person or thing to another

change your/somebody’s mind

to change a decision or an opinion
- Nothing will make me change my mind.
- What made you change your mind?
Topics Preferences and decisionsb1, Opinion and argumentb1

change/swap places (with somebody)

(usually used in negative sentences) to be in somebody else’s situation
- I'm perfectly happy—I wouldn't change places with anyone.

change your tune

(informal) to express a different opinion or behave in a different way when your situation changes
- Wait until it happens to him—he'll soon change his tune.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

change your ways

to start to live or behave in a different way from before
- He was in trouble with the police as a teenager but now he’s completely changed his ways.
- Your father is unlikely to change his ways now.

chop and change

(British English, informal) to keep changing your mind or what you are doing
More Like This Alliteration in idioms
Alliteration in idioms
- belt and braces
- black and blue
- born and bred
- chalk and cheese
- chop and change
- done and dusted
- down and dirty
- in dribs and drabs
- eat somebody out of house and home
- facts and figures
- fast and furious
- first and foremost
- forgive and forget
- hale and hearty
- hem and haw
- kith and kin
- mix and match
- part and parcel
- puff and pant
- to rack and ruin
- rant and rave
- risk life and limb
- short and sweet
- signed and sealed
- spic and span
- through thick and thin
- this and that
- top and tail
- tried and tested
- wax and wane

a leopard cannot change its spots

(saying) people cannot change their character, especially if they have a bad character
- You didn’t really expect her to be on time, did you? A leopard can’t change its spots.

change

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/tʃeɪndʒ/

Idioms

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difference

[countable, uncountable] the act or result of something becoming different

change in something We're hoping for a change in the weather.
There was no change in the patient's condition overnight.
I need to make some major changes in my life.
a change in policy/law
The past decade has seen dramatic changes in global poverty.
change to something We need to inform you of significant changes to the tax system.
She is someone who hates change.
social/political/economic change
The award-winning director firmly believes in the power of film to bring about positive change.

see also climate change, sea change, sex change, step change

Extra Examples

A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.
Businesses have to adapt to change.
Courses offered in schools reflect changes in the job market.
He needs to show a change in attitude if he is to succeed.
How far does war bring about social change?
I've seen many changes since I started farming.
In the current climate of change, adaptability is vital.
Major economic changes have occurred recently.
The eighties were a period of great change in publishing.
The last few years have seen a change in attitudes to single parents.
The president realized he could not hold back the tide of change, and resigned.
The report called for sweeping changes to the health system.
The research will measure any changes in the children's sleep patterns.
These reforms have brought about significant changes in the overall economy.
Train times are subject to change without notice.
We are going to introduce a few changes to the system.
We resist change because of fear of the unknown.
Young people are more willing to embrace change.
net change in incomes
the need for a culture change within the industry

Topics Change, cause and effecta1, Weathera1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

big
considerable
dramatic
…

verb + change

make
bring about
cause
…

change + verb

come
happen
occur
…

preposition

for a change
change in
change of
…

phrases

a change for the better
a change for the worse
a change of clothes
…

See full entry

replacing something

[countable] the process of replacing something with something new or different; a thing that is used to replace something

change of something a change of address
a change of government
(British English) Let's get away for the weekend. A change of scene (= time in a different place) will do you good.
This destination offers holidaymakers a refreshing change of pace.
change from A to B a change from agriculture to industry
There will be a crew change when we land at Dubai.

see also bureau de change, regime change

Extra Examples

I needed a change of scene after being in the job for so long.
the change from the old to the new system
He called for a change of mood in Scottish politics.
He made a rapid gear change as he approached the bend.
I made a couple of minor changes to my opening paragraph.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

big
considerable
dramatic
…

verb + change

make
bring about
cause
…

change + verb

come
happen
occur
…

preposition

for a change
change in
change of
…

phrases

a change for the better
a change for the worse
a change of clothes
…

See full entry

something new and interesting

a change

[singular] the fact of a situation, a place or an experience being different from what is usual and therefore likely to be interesting, fun, etc.

for a change Let's stay in for a change.
Can you just listen for a change?
It makes a change to read some good news for once.
a change from something The manual work made a welcome change from his previous job.

Extra Examples

It made a pleasant change not having to work.
Finishing early was a welcome change.
I usually take the bus to school, but today I walked for a change.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

big
considerable
dramatic
…

verb + change

make
bring about
cause
…

change + verb

come
happen
occur
…

preposition

for a change
change in
change of
…

phrases

a change for the better
a change for the worse
a change of clothes
…

See full entry

money

[uncountable] the money that you get back when you have paid for something giving more money than the amount it costs

Don't forget your change!
That's 40p change.
The ticket machine gives change.

Extra Examples

The ticket machine doesn't give change.
This machine does not give change.
The meal left me with not much change from $200.
I told the taxi driver to keep the change.
I checked my change before leaving the store.

Topics Shoppingb1, Moneyb1

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + change

check
count
give
…

preposition

change from
change out of

See full entry

[uncountable] coins rather than paper money

Do you have any change for the machine?
in change I have two dollars in change (= coins that together are worth two dollars).
I didn't have any small change (= coins of low value) to leave as a tip.
He puts his loose change in a money box for the children.
change for something Could you give me change for a ten pound note (= coins or notes that are worth this amount)?

of clothes

change of clothes, etc. [countable] an extra set of clothes, etc.

She packed a change of clothes for the weekend.
I keep a change of shoes in the car.
Take a change of clothes in case you get dirty.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

big
considerable
dramatic
…

verb + change

make
bring about
cause
…

change + verb

come
happen
occur
…

preposition

for a change
change in
change of
…

phrases

a change for the better
a change for the worse
a change of clothes
…

See full entry

of bus/train/plane

[countable] an occasion when you go from one bus, train or plane to another during a journey

The journey involved three changes.

in a woman's life

the change (of life)

[singular] (informal) the menopause (= the time during which a woman gradually stops menstruating, usually at around the age of 50)

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French change (noun), changer (verb), from late Latin cambiare, from Latin cambire ‘barter’, probably of Celtic origin.

Idioms

a change for the better/worse

a person, thing, situation, etc. that is better/worse than the previous or present one
- Voters see the new leader as a change for the better.
- I reckon we've all made a big change for the better.
- His family had detected a change for the worse in his behaviour.

a change of heart

if you have a change of heart, your attitude towards something changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc.
- Dan did not want to get married but recently he’s had a change of heart.
- He said he's not coming, but he might have a change of heart.

a change of mind

an act of changing what you think about a situation, etc.

get no change out of somebody

(British English, informal) to get no help or information from somebody
- We got no change out of the legal department.

ring the changes (with something)

(British English) to make changes to something in order to have greater variety
- Ring the changes with a new colour.

a wind/the winds of change

(used especially by journalists) an event or a series of events that has started to happen and will cause important changes or results
- A wind of change was blowing through the banking world.