varied

varied — adjective

1. Made up of or including a wide range of different kinds of things, people, or qu

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

Made up of or including a wide range of different kinds of things, people, or qualities, so that it is not all the same.

Example

The restaurant offers a varied menu with dishes from different parts of Asia.

collocation: varied menu

Bao's music collection is highly varied, ranging from classical to electronic.

Common collocations
  • varied menu
  • varied background
  • varied collection
  • varied selection
  • varied experience
  • varied interests
  • highly varied
  • extremely varied
Synonyms
  • diverse

    More formal; strongly emphasizes differences within the group, especially cultural or demographic differences.

  • various

    Simply points to multiple different items without emphasizing the breadth of range.

  • assorted

    More casual; typically used for mixed items of a similar category, like chocolates or gifts.

Antonyms
  • uniform

    Describes something that is the same throughout, with no variety.

  • homogeneous

    Formal; made up of parts that are all the same kind.

Grammar Patterns

varied + plural noun

be + varied

Usage Note

Commonly describes collections, selections, menus, experiences, interests, and backgrounds. Can be used both attributively (before a noun) and predicatively (after a linking verb like 'is').

Common Mistakes

The museum has a varied types of art.
The museum has varied types of art.' or 'The museum has a variety of art.
'varied' is an adjective; do not pair it with 'a' when it directly modifies a plural noun.
We saw varied a range of products.
We saw a varied range of products.
the article 'a' must come before 'varied' when followed by a singular noun like 'range.'

2. Tending to change regularly from one state, level, or quality to another, so tha

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

Tending to change regularly from one state, level, or quality to another, so that it does not stay the same for long.

Example

The weather in this mountain region is varied, with morning sunshine and evening rain.

collocation: varied weather

Kian's mood has been varied lately, shifting between cheerful and quiet.

Common collocations
  • varied weather
  • varied prices
  • varied mood
  • varied quality
  • varied conditions
  • quite varied
  • highly varied
Synonyms
  • changeable

    Focuses on instability and unpredictability; common for weather and moods.

  • fluctuating

    Specifically for levels or amounts that go up and down, like prices or temperatures.

  • inconsistent

    Has a negative connotation; suggests unreliability or lack of dependability.

Antonyms
  • constant

    Staying the same over time; the opposite of frequently changing.

  • steady

    Stable and regular, without sudden changes.

Grammar Patterns

be + varied

Usage Note

Frequently describes weather, prices, moods, quality, or conditions that shift over time. Most natural in present or perfect tenses describing a period. Less common in attributive position (before a noun) than sense 1.

Common Mistakes

Varied weather is hard to plan for.' (ambiguous — could mean sense 1 or sense 2)
The weather here is varied; it can change in an hour.
use a full clause or context to signal the 'changing often' meaning rather than 'many types.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe a mix of different items, but the nuance differs. Diverse emphasises meaningful differences within a group, often related to culture, opinion, or background (e.g., 'a diverse student body'). Various simply highlights that multiple distinct types exist, without suggesting breadth or depth (e.g., 'for various reasons'). Assorted is the most casual, often used for collections of similar things in a mixed set (e.g., 'assorted chocolates'). A varied curriculum offers many different subjects across a broad range; a diverse curriculum includes subjects from different traditions; various subjects just means several different ones.

diverse ↗various ↗assorted ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a wide range of
  • a broad variety of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'varius' (meaning 'changing, diverse, speckled'), through Old French 'varier' into English as 'vary.' The adjective 'varied' originally came from the past participle of the verb 'vary,' and over time developed its own independent meaning describing things that contain variety within themselves.