Alter — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈȯl-tər/ al·ter

Meaning & Definition of Alter

Alter (verb)

  1. to make different without changing into something else
  2. castrate, spay
  3. to become different

Alter (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make different in some way

    "can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?"

    similar: change, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary
    related: deform, metamorphose, mutate, regenerate, revolutionize, transfigure, transform, transmute, commute, convert, exchange, rejigger, retool
    opposite: fix, freeze, set, stabilize

  2. to remove the sex organs of

    "contends that cats and dogs that have been altered make better pets"

    similar: desex, fix, neuter
    related: castrate, emasculate, geld, spay, sterilize

Related Entry: Alter ego (noun)

Alter ego is a different word from Alter. The synonyms below are for alter ego, not for alter.

  1. a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another

    "over the years the state's other senator became his alter ego as well as his political ally"

    similar: amigo, buddy, chum, compadre, comrade, confidant, confidante, crony, familiar, friend, intimate, mate (chiefly British), musketeer, pal
    related: acquaintance, associate, cohort, colleague, companion, fellow, hearty, hobnobber, partner, peer, sport, blood brother, brother, main man, sister, abettor, accomplice, ally, collaborator, confederate, pen pal, benefactor, supporter, sympathizer, well-wisher, friendly
    opposite: enemy, foe
    near: adversary, antagonist, competitor, opponent, rival, archenemy, nemesis

  2. something or someone that strongly resembles another

    "the hero of the novel is clearly the author's alter ego, right down to his receding hairline and middle-aged paunch"

    similar: carbon, carbon copy, clone, counterpart, doppelgänger, double, duplicate, duplication, facsimile, fetch, image, likeness, look-alike, match, mirror image, picture, replica, ringer, spit, spitting image, twin
    related: effigy, portrait, portrayal, companion, fellow, mate, equal, equivalent, analogue, parallel
    near: antithesis, converse, opposite, reverse

Related Entry: Alter egos (noun)

Alter egos is a different word from Alter. The synonyms below are for alter egos, not for alter.

  1. a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another

    "over the years the state's other senator became his alter ego as well as his political ally"

    similar: amigos, buddies, chums, compadres, comrades, confidantes, confidants, cronies, familiars, friends, intimates, mates (chiefly British), musketeers, pals
    related: acquaintances, associates, cohorts, colleagues, companions, fellows, hearties, hobnobbers, partners, peers, sports, blood brothers, brothers, main men, sisters, abettors, accomplices, allies, collaborators, confederates, pen pals, benefactors, supporters, sympathizers, well-wishers, friendlies
    opposite: enemies, foes
    near: adversaries, antagonists, competitors, opponents, rivals, archenemies, nemeses

  2. something or someone that strongly resembles another

    "the hero of the novel is clearly the author's alter ego, right down to his receding hairline and middle-aged paunch"

    similar: carbon copies, carbons, clones, counterparts, doppelgängers, doubles, duplicates, duplications, facsimiles, fetches, images, likenesses, look-alikes, matches, mirror images, pictures, replicas, ringers, spits, spitting images, twins
    related: effigies, portraits, portrayals, companions, fellows, mates, equals, equivalents, analogues, parallels
    near: antitheses, converses, opposites, reverses

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Alter

The most common words with a similar meaning to Alter:

change, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, vary, desex, fix, neuter

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Alter

Words with the opposite meaning of Alter:

fix, freeze, set, stabilize

Related Words for Alter

deform, metamorphose, mutate, regenerate, revolutionize, transfigure, transform, transmute, commute, convert, exchange, rejigger, retool, castrate, emasculate, geld, spay, sterilize

Word Forms of Alter

Inflections: altered, altering

Derived words: alterability (noun), alterable (adjective), alterably (adverb), alterer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Alter

Middle English alteren "to change, transform," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French alterer, borrowed from Late Latin alterāre, verbal derivative of Latin alter "second, another, next," derivative, with the suffix of opposition -ter-, from the base of alius "other" else:1

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Alter

Words & Phrases Containing Alter

alter ego, alter Christus, alter idem

Frequently Asked Questions about Alter

What does "Alter" mean?

"Alter" means to make different without changing into something else. As a verb, it is defined as: to make different without changing into something else. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Alter"?

Other words for "Alter" include change, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake and remodel. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Alter" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Alter"?

There are 33 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Alter". Common alternatives include change, make over, modify, recast, redo, refashion, remake, remodel, revamp and revise.

What is the opposite of "Alter"?

Antonyms of "Alter" include fix, freeze, set and stabilize.

How do you use "Alter" in a sentence?

Examples of "Alter" in a sentence: "can't you alter your plans just slightly so we can leave 10 minutes earlier?"; "contends that cats and dogs that have been altered make better pets".

Is "Alter" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Alter" is a verb.

Is "Alter" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Alter"?

"Alter" is pronounced /ˈȯl-tər/ and divided into syllables as al·ter.