Meaning & use
radical change
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
a change so complete that the old form or system is replaced by something very different.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a radical change' or the plural 'radical changes'.
Patterns
- a radical change in something
- a radical change to something
- make a radical change
- undergo a radical change
Moving the whole company online was a radical change for a firm that had always worked on paper.
The new law brought a radical change in the way schools are funded.
After the election, the country went through radical changes in its economy.
phrasecountable
a sudden and far-reaching change in the way someone thinks or lives.
Grammar: Often used with personal subjects and verbs like 'make' or 'need'.
Patterns
- make a radical change in your life
- need a radical change
- a radical change of attitude
He made a radical change in his life and moved to a small farm.
Her attitude to work underwent a radical change after her illness.
Word forms
| plural | radical changes |
|---|
Common combinations
- a radical change in policy
- Voters are demanding a radical change in policy on housing.
- a radical change of direction
- The band's new album is a radical change of direction.
- bring about radical change
- New technology has brought about radical change in the industry.
- undergo a radical change
- The city has undergone a radical change since the factory closed.
- a radical change from the past
- This style of teaching is a radical change from the past.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fundamental change
- Very close in meaning, but 'fundamental' stresses the deep basic level rather than the idea of something new and extreme.
- drastic change
- Suggests a strong, often harsh change made quickly to solve a problem; 'radical change' is more neutral.
- revolution
- A noun for a complete change in a system or way of thinking; stronger and often used about politics or science.
- transformation
- A more formal noun meaning a complete change of form or appearance; it focuses on the result, not the act.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: radical change or radical? radical change or radicalize?
radical change vs radical
As an adjective it means extreme or new and different; as a noun it means a person with extreme political views. 'Radical change' uses the adjective.
radical change vs radicalize
A verb meaning to make someone adopt extreme views. It is not a synonym for changing something completely.
Practice
The manager promised ______ in the way the team works.
Choose one answer.
'A radical change' fits because 'promise' needs a noun phrase and the phrase is countable. 'Radically change' is a verb phrase and cannot follow 'promised' without a subject, and 'radical changing' is not a normal noun form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “radical change”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.