VER-ee-ing
/ˈvɛɹiɪŋ/
varying is pronounced VER-ee-ing (/ˈvɛɹiɪŋ/). Varying is the present participle form of vary, meaning changing in amount, degree, or nature. It refers to things that differ or alternate rather than staying constant. The word carries nuance of fluctuation across contexts, quality, or frequency, often used to describe measurements, conditions, or behaviors that are not fixed.
Varying is the present participle form of vary, meaning changing in amount, degree, or nature. It refers to things that differ or alternate rather than staying constant. The word carries nuance of fluctuation across contexts, quality, or frequency, often used to describe measurements, conditions, or behaviors that are not fixed.
- You tend to misplace the stress, saying /ˈver.iŋ/ or /ˈveər.iŋ/. Ensure primary stress is on the first syllable: /ˈver.i.ɪŋ/. - The second syllable often becomes a full /iː/ or a /ɪə/; instead, aim for a quick, light /ɪ/ (or schwa) followed by /ŋ/. - The /r/ can be too heavy in US, or dropped in non-rhotic accents; practice with a crisp but controlled /ɹ/ transitioning into the vowel. - Final nasal: avoid a separate, clipped /ŋ/; keep it as a smooth, nasal release.
"The results were varying across the test groups, indicating inconsistent effects."
"Her mood was varying throughout the day, making plans hard to pin down."
"The temperature readings were varying, suggesting an unstable environment."
Pronounce as /ˈver.i.ɪŋ/ in US and many UK contexts, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with /v/ as a voiced labiodental fricative, then /e/ as a clear vowel like 'air' without color on the tongue, then /r/ with an American rhotic /ɹ/ posture. The second syllable uses a light /i/ plus a schwa-like reduction leading into final -ing /ɪŋ/. In many UK pronunciations, you’ll hear /ˈveə.rɪŋ/ with a smoother /ə/ in the second vowel and a non-rhotic r, but in fast speech the r can be subtle. You’ll want a crisp initial vowel before the alveolar /r/ and a short, reduced final consonant cluster.
Common mistakes include: 1) misplacing the stress, producing /ˈver.iŋ/ or /ˈveər.iŋ/ with a long second syllable; 2) merging the /r/ into a silent or weak post-vocalic sound in non-rhotic accents, causing /ˈveəɪŋ/ without the rhotic quality; 3) overpronouncing the second syllable as full /iː/ instead of the quick /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ in rapid speech. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, reduce the second vowel to a short /ɪ/ or schwa before /ŋ/, and maintain a light, quick transition between /r/ and /ɪ/.
US: /ˈver.i.ɪŋ/, rhotic /ɹ/ with clear r and an unstressed final /ɪŋ/. UK: often /ˈveə.ɪŋ/ or /ˈveə.rɪŋ/ in some accents; non-rhotic speakers may drop postvocalic r, yielding /ˈveə.ɪŋ/; AU: /ˈveə.rɪŋ/ or /ˈver.iŋ/ depending on speaker; Australian tends toward /ˈveəɹɪŋ/ with non-rhotic tendencies and a plateaued vowel in the first syllable. Across accents, the challenge is balancing the quick, reduced second vowel and the final nasal without turning it into a clipped or drawn-out sound.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of sounds: a tense, rounded first vowel /e/ before an /ɹ/ in rhotic sounds, followed by a fast /i/ or /ɪ/ and a final /ŋ/. Many speakers flatten the first vowel or insert a yod-like offglide. Also, the transition from an rhotic consonant into a short, reduced vowel before the suffix -ing is subtle; misplacing the vowel length or lengthening the second vowel can distort the word. Focus on clean /er/ onset, controlled /ɹ/ release, and a swift /ɪŋ/.
A unique aspect is the potential diphthongization of the first vowel before /ɹ/ in certain accents (US /ˈver/ vs UK /ˈveə/), and the fact that the second syllable often reduces rapidly to /ɪ/ or /ɪŋ/ rather than a full vowel cluster. The /ɹ/ immediately before the unstressed syllable can vary in strength across speakers, producing a subtle schwa-like sound or a brief vocalic /ɪ/ before the final nasal. Paying attention to the exact timing of the /ɹ/ and the schwa helps you land the word consistently.
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- US: emphasize rhotic /ɹ/; ensure a strong initial /v/ and a short /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. Use IPA: /ˈver.i.ɪŋ/. - UK: non-rhotic tendencies may reduce postvocalic r; you might hear /ˈveə.ɪŋ/; practice with an open-mid front vowel /eə/ then a short /ɪ/ before /ŋ/. - AU: often close to US but with a slightly broader, less rhotic /ɹ/; maintain /ˈveə.rɪŋ/ or /ˈver.iŋ/ depending on region. Focus on maintaining crisp /v/, balanced /ɹ/ release, and fast /ŋ/ closure. - IPA references: US /ˈver.i.ɪŋ/; UK /ˈveə.rɪŋ/ (non-rhotic); AU /ˈveəɹɪŋ/.
Varying comes from the verb vary, which derives from Old French varier, itself from Latin varius meaning 'diverse, varying, of different kinds.' The Latin root vari- conveys the idea of turning, changing, or differing. The English verb vary appeared in the 14th century with senses tied to altering form or degree. Over time, the present participle varying emerged to describe ongoing action of change, often in progressive or descriptive phrases (e.g., varying degrees, varying results). The term gained widespread usage in scientific, mathematical, and statistical contexts where fluctuation and difference are critical. In modern usage, varying frequently modifies nouns to indicate non-steadiness, range, or discrepancy, and appears in both formal and informal registers. First known use in print aligns with mid-14th-century English, with subsequent expansions in nineteenth-century technical writing and contemporary academic discourse. The word has retained its core sense of change while expanding to describe continuous or repeating variation across multiple domains.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "varying" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "varying"
-ing sounds
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