Meaning & use
minute change
Last updated
Meaning
phrasecountable
A very small or subtle change, often one that is difficult to notice.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a minute change' or 'minute changes'.
Patterns
- a minute change in something
- make a minute change
- minute changes to something
The scientists detected a minute change in the temperature.
A minute change in the wording of the contract made a big difference.
Over time, minute changes in the landscape can become noticeable.
Word forms
| plural | minute changes |
|---|
Common combinations
- a minute change in
- There was a minute change in the patient's condition.
- make a minute change
- You can make a minute change to the color without affecting the design.
- minute changes to
- The editor suggested minute changes to the manuscript.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tiny change
- Tiny change is more informal and simply means very small; minute change is more formal and often implies subtlety.
- subtle change
- Subtle change emphasizes that the change is not obvious, while minute change emphasizes its small size.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: minute change or minute?
minute change vs minute
As a noun, 'minute' means 60 seconds and is pronounced /ˈmɪnɪt/. As an adjective in 'minute change', it means very small and is pronounced /maɪˈnjuːt/.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Minute change' means a very small change, so 'too small to see without a microscope' fits. The other options confuse 'minute' (small) with 'minute' (60 seconds).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “minute change”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.