vary and very are homophones: they are pronounced identically and spelled differently, which is why they are so often swapped. vary means “become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence”. very means “precisely as stated”. very is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈvɛɹi/
1.v.become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
“her mood changes in accordance with the weather”
2.v.be at variance with; be out of line with
3.v.be subject to change in accordance with a variable
“Prices vary”
| vary | very | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈvɛɹi/ | /ˈvɛɹi/ |
| Said | VER-ee | VER-ee |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 4 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | verb | adjective, adverb |
| Senses | 4 | 4 |
| How common | Familiar | Core |
| Synonyms | change, alter | none recorded |
Full entry for vary · Full entry for very · More comparisons
/ˈvɛɹi/
1.adj.precisely as stated
“the very center of town”
2.adj.being the exact same one; not any other:
“this is the identical room we stayed in before”
3.adv.used as intensifiers; `real' is sometimes used informally for `really'; `rattling' is informal
“she was very gifted”