varying
/ˈveə.ri.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɛriɪŋ] /ˈver.i.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɛriɪŋ] /ˈver-ē How to pronounce vary (audio)/ (ame, mw)
varying — 形容詞
- varyingpositive
- more varyingcomparative
- most varyingsuperlative
1. not staying the same across different people, things, times, or situations; show
各不相同
在不同的人、事、時間之間存在差異
not staying the same across different people, things, times, or situations; showing differences in amount, strength, or kind from one case to the next
The shelves held jars of varying sizes, from tiny spice pots to large pickle containers.
架上擺著大小不一的罐子，從小小的香料瓶到大大的醃菜罐都有。
Shirin received emails of varying urgency throughout the morning, some marked red and others grey.
Shirin 整個上午收到緊急程度不一的郵件，有些標紅、有些標灰。
varying + [noun] describing differences in degree across items
The teacher handed out worksheets at varying levels so every child could work comfortably.
老師發下難度不同的學習單，讓每個孩子都能輕鬆作答。
Tuan noticed varying prices for the same brand of rice across three different shops.
Tuan 注意到同一牌子的米在三家不同商店價格各不相同。
Residents expressed varying opinions about the new park, and the council listened to everyone.
居民對新公園表達了不同看法，議會也聽取了每個人的意見。
- different
broader: can refer to any kind of unlikeness, not only differences in degree
- diverse
emphasises a wide range of clearly distinct types, often positive
- inconsistent
adds a negative judgement — suggests something should be the same but is not
- fluctuating
used mainly for numbers going up and down, not for static differences across items
文法句型
varying + [noun]
用法筆記
Formed from the present participle of 'vary'. Used before nouns to describe things that differ. Not usually graded with 'very' — say 'prices vary a lot' rather than 'prices are very varying.'
常見錯誤
varying — 動詞
- varyingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- varyings3rd person singular
- varyinging-ing form
- varyingedpast simple
1. to change some part of something without completely replacing it — for example,
稍作改變
對某事做出部分調整而非完全替換
to change some part of something without completely replacing it — for example, adjusting a recipe by using less sugar, or changing your daily routine by taking a different route home
Arjun varied his workout by adding ten minutes of swimming after the weight session.
Arjun 在重訓後加了十分鐘游泳，稍微改變了他的運動內容。
vary + [activity/routine]: change one part of it
The chef varied the sauce recipe, swapping lime for lemon to sharpen the taste.
主廚調整了醬汁配方，用萊姆代替檸檬來增添風味。
Constanza varied her route to work each day to avoid the worst of the traffic.
Constanza 每天改變上班路線，避開最塞的路段。
The band varied the final chorus, slowing it down for a softer close.
樂團把最後一段副歌放慢，讓結尾更柔和。
Daniel never varied his morning coffee routine — same mug, same beans, same time.
Daniel 從不改變他的晨間咖啡習慣——同個杯子、同款豆子、同個時間。
- stick to
continue doing something without any change
文法句型
vary + something
用法筆記
Object must be something under your control that you can adjust — a routine, a recipe, a method, a schedule. The change is partial, not a complete replacement.
常見錯誤
2. to make the different items within a group unlike each other on purpose, so ther
使多樣化
讓多個事物彼此不同以創造變化
to make the different items within a group unlike each other on purpose, so there is a pleasing mix instead of everything being the same
Emily varied the activities at camp, mixing sports, crafts, and quiet reading time.
Emily 讓營隊活動多樣化，混合了運動、手工和安靜閱讀時間。
vary + [set of items/activities]: introduce variety into the group
A good teacher varies the lesson format to keep students interested and alert.
好老師會變換上課方式，讓學生保持興趣與專注。
The gardener varied the flower beds, planting tulips, roses, and daisies together.
園丁讓花壇多樣化，把鬱金香、玫瑰和雛菊種在一起。
Takeshi varied the team assignments each week so everyone worked with different colleagues.
Takeshi 每週輪換分組安排，讓每個人都能跟不同同事合作。
The magazine varies its cover style each month to stay fresh on the shelf.
這本雜誌每個月變換封面風格，讓它在書架上保持新鮮感。
- standardise
make everything follow the same pattern
文法句型
vary + [plural items or set]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (MAKE SMALL CHANGES): sense 1 changes one thing partially; sense 2 makes multiple things different from each other. The object is usually plural or refers to a set.
常見錯誤
3. to be different at different times, in different places, or for different people
因情況而異
並非固定不變，隨時間或情況而改變
to be different at different times, in different places, or for different people — used about things that are not fixed or constant, such as prices, opinions, weather, or quality
Ticket prices vary by season, and summer shows can cost almost twice as much.
票價因季節而異，夏季演出幾乎貴上一倍。
vary + by [factor]: differences depend on that factor
The quality of fruit varies from week to week at the local market.
本地市場的水果品質每週都不一樣。
Sleep needs vary widely: some adults feel fine on five hours while others need nine.
睡眠需求差異很大：有些成人睡五小時就夠，有人則需要九小時。
Henrik found that internet speeds varied greatly between the city centre and the suburbs.
Henrik 發現市中心和郊區的網速差異很大。
The noise level in the library varies throughout the day, peaking after school.
圖書館的噪音量在一天中不斷變化，放學後達到高峰。
- remain constant
more formal; used especially in scientific or technical writing
文法句型
something varies
vary from X to X
vary depending on X
vary according to X
用法筆記
This is the most common sense of 'vary' and is always intransitive. The subject is the thing that differs — you cannot 'vary something' in this sense. Common with adverbs like 'widely', 'greatly', 'considerably', 'enormously'.
常見錯誤
4. to be different from what normally happens or from the accepted standard; to ste
偏離常態
與一般情況或預期模式不同
to be different from what normally happens or from the accepted standard; to step outside the range that people expect
Liam's test scores rarely varied from the class average by more than two points.
Liam 的考試成績很少偏離班級平均超過兩分。
vary from + [standard/average]: depart from the expected value
The bus timetable varied from the usual pattern during the holiday weekend.
假期週末的公車班表偏離了平日模式。
Sivan's behaviour varied from his usual mood whenever stress piled up at work.
每當工作壓力大時，Sivan 的行為就會偏離他平常的樣子。
The river's depth varied from the average after a week of unusually heavy rainfall.
經過一週異常大雨後，河川水深偏離了平均值。
David's cooking varied from the recipe so much that the dish tasted completely different.
David 做的菜偏離食譜太多，以至於味道完全不一樣了。
文法句型
vary from + [the norm / the usual / the expected]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (CHANGE BY CASE): sense 3 describes variation across multiple cases or times; sense 4 describes a single departure from ONE expected standard. The pattern 'vary from + [standard]' is the key signal.
常見錯誤
5. (technical) to change through a series of different numbers, amounts, or states
呈序列變化
隨著其他變數而取一系列不同數值
(technical) to change through a series of different numbers, amounts, or states as another factor changes — for example, temperature rising as pressure increases, or brightness following a regular cycle
In the experiment, the temperature varied with pressure, rising as the gas was compressed.
實驗中，溫度隨壓力而變化，氣體被壓縮時溫度上升。
vary with + [factor]: change in step with another variable (scientific)
The star's brightness varies in a regular cycle over a period of three days.
這顆恆星的亮度以三天為週期呈規律變化。
The voltage varied smoothly as Tunde turned the dial from zero to the maximum setting.
Tunde 將旋鈕從零轉到最大時，電壓平穩地變化。
The population of rabbits varied with the food supply, growing when plants were plentiful.
兔子的數量隨食物供應而變化，植物茂盛時數量就增加。
Sound pitch varies continuously as you slide a finger along a guitar string.
手指沿著吉他弦滑動時，音高會連續變化。
文法句型
vary with + [variable]
vary as + [something changes]
vary inversely
vary directly
用法筆記
Technical sense used mainly in mathematics, physics, and engineering. In everyday language, use sense 3 (CHANGE BY CASE). The pattern 'vary with' or 'vary as' signals this scientific meaning.