What does covarying mean?
Covarying is the present participle of covary and is also used adjectivally to describe two or more quantities, variables, or characteristics that change together. The term is especially common in statistics, biology, economics, and other descriptive sciences. For example, researchers may say that temperature and ice-cream sales covary, meaning that sales tend to rise when temperatures rise. Covarying indicates association or coordinated change; by itself, it does not prove that one variable causes the other. The construction is formal and technical compared with ordinary wording such as “increasing together” or “going up and down together.” Its usefulness lies in making the pattern of joint variation explicit while leaving the exact relationship—positive, negative, linear, nonlinear, or otherwise—to be described separately. In general prose, “varying together” is often clearer, while “covarying” is valuable when concise, specialist terminology is appropriate.
Describing quantities, variables, or characteristics that vary together or change in a corresponding way.
"The report identified several covarying factors that may influence the final result."
Especially common in statistical, scientific, and formal contexts.
The present participle of covary, meaning varying together.
"Income and housing costs were covarying rapidly in the city."
Usually used in continuous or progressive constructions.
Two variables can covarying without one causing the other: covarying describes the pattern, not the explanation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does covarying come from?
Covarying was formed in English from the combining form co-, meaning “together,” and vary. Vary derives from Latin variare, “to change or vary,” which is related to varius, “different or various.” Related English words—including variable, various, variance, and variety—continue this Latin family of meanings.
Related word forms
How covarying is actually used
Covarying is predominantly formal and technical, occurring especially in statistics, biology, economics, and the physical sciences. It may describe a general relationship, so the direction and precise form of the variation usually require additional context.
Easily confused with covarying
A covariant is a statistical term for a quantity that changes with another quantity, whereas covarying is an adjective or participle describing things that vary together.