make less severe or harsh or extreme
"please modify this letter to make it more polite"
"he modified his views on same-gender marriage"
To change part of.
"She decided to modify her original recipe by adding a pinch more cinnamon to enhance the flavor."
In plain English: To modify something means to change it slightly so that it works better or looks different.
"You can modify your reservation if you need to change the date."
Usage: Use modify to describe making partial or specific adjustments to something without altering its essential nature. Avoid using it when you mean to completely replace or destroy the original item.
The word modify comes from the Latin modificare, which originally meant "to limit" or "control." It entered English through Middle French and Middle English, evolving from its root components meaning "to measure off" and "to make."