Convert vs. Transform: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Convert typically means to change something into a different form or function, while transform implies a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, or nature.
Key Differences
Convert often refers to changing something into a different state or form, maintaining the essence while altering the function or appearance. Transform suggests a more significant or fundamental change, often implying a dramatic alteration in form, appearance, or nature.
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Dec 06, 2023
Conversion usually involves a change from one state to another with a specific objective, like converting currencies or religions. Transformation implies a deeper or more radical change, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, indicating a profound metamorphosis.
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Dec 06, 2023
To convert something often means adapting it to a new purpose, like converting a building into a museum. To transform something implies a comprehensive change, reshaping its very essence, like a technological innovation transforming an industry.
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Dec 06, 2023
Conversion can be a process of changing beliefs, forms, or functions, often retaining some original characteristics. Transformation, however, often results in something entirely different from the original, with significant alterations.
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Dec 06, 2023
In technology, converting data means changing it from one format to another, while transforming data implies processing or manipulating it to reveal new insights or create a fundamentally different understanding.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Convert and Transform Definitions
Convert
To change one's belief or opinion.
She converted to a different political ideology.
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Dec 06, 2023
Transform
To change the nature, function, or condition of something.
Education has the power to transform lives.
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Dec 06, 2023
Convert
To change data or file format.
The software converted the document to a PDF.
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Dec 06, 2023
Transform
To undergo a process of transformation.
The caterpillar transformed into a butterfly.
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Dec 06, 2023
Convert
To cause something or someone to change in form or character.
The program converted him into a skilled programmer.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Transform
To change something in a fundamental or extensive way.
Digital technology has transformed the way we communicate.
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Dec 06, 2023
Convert
To change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product; transform
Convert water into ice.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change in character or condition, often radically.
The city's waterfront was transformed with the new development.
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Dec 06, 2023
Convert
To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another; adapt to a new or different purpose
Convert a forest into farmland.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change markedly the appearance or form of
"A thick, fibrous fog had transformed the trees into ghosts and the streetlights into soft, haloed moons" (David Michael Kaplan).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To persuade or induce to adopt a particular religion, faith, or belief
Convert pagans to Christianity.
Was converted to pacifism by the war.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change the nature, function, or condition of; convert
A steam engine transforms heat into mechanical energy.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To express (a quantity) in alternative units
Converting feet into meters.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(Law) To appropriate (another's property) without right to one's own use.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To complete (a conversion, penalty shot, or free throw) successfully.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
The result, especially a mathematical quantity or linguistic construction, of a transformation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
(transitive) To change greatly the appearance or form of.
The alchemists sought to transform lead into gold.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
(transitive) To change the nature, condition or function of; to change in nature, disposition, heart, character, etc.; to convert.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To be converted
A sofa that converts into a bed.
Arms factories converting to peacetime production.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To subject to a transformation; to change into another form without altering the value.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(Sports) To shoot and score a goal, especially immediately after receiving a pass or gaining control of a rebound.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
One who has been converted, especially from one religion or belief to another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
(intransitive) To undergo a transformation; to change in appearance or character.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(transitive) To transform or change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product.
A kettle converts water into steam.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
(analysis) An operation (often an integration) that converts one function into another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(transitive) To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another.
He converted his garden into a tennis court.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(transitive) To induce (someone) to adopt a particular religion, faith, ideology or belief see also sense 11.
They converted her to Roman Catholicism on her deathbed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(transitive) To exchange for something of equal value.
We converted our pounds into euros.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change the form of; to change in shape or appearance; to metamorphose; as, a caterpillar is ultimately transformed into a butterfly.
Love may transform me to an oyster.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change into another substance; to transmute; as, the alchemists sought to transform lead into gold.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(transitive) To express (a unit of measurement) in terms of another; to furnish a mathematical formula by which a quantity, expressed in the former unit, may be given in the latter.
How do you convert feet into metres?
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change in nature, disposition, heart, character, or the like; to convert.
Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To appropriate wrongfully or unlawfully; to commit the common law tort of conversion.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To change, as an algebraic expression or geometrical figure, into another from without altering its value.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To be changed in form; to be metamorphosed.
His hair transforms to down.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
Change or alter in form, appearance, or nature;
This experience transformed her completely
She transformed the clay into a beautiful sculpture
Transubstantiate one element into another
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
(intransitive) To undergo a conversion of religion, faith or belief see also sense 3.
We’ve converted to Methodism.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
Change in outward structure or looks;
He transformed into a monster
The salesman metamorphosed into an ugly beetle
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
Change from one form or medium into another;
Braque translated collage into oil
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
Convert (one form of energy) to another;
Transform energy to light
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
Change (a bacterial cell) into a genetically distinct cell by the introduction of DNA from another cell of the same or closely related species
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To increase one's individual score, especially from 50 runs (a fifty) to 100 runs (a century), or from a century to a double or triple century.
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Oct 19, 2023
Transform
To make a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, or character.
The renovation completely transformed the old house.
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Dec 06, 2023
Convert
To perform the action that an online advertisement is intended to induce; to reach the point of conversion.
Each time a user clicks on one of your adverts, you will be charged the bid amount whether the user converts or not.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
A person who has converted to a religion.
They were all converts to Islam.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
A person who is now in favour of something that he or she previously opposed or disliked.
I never really liked broccoli before, but now that I've tasted it the way you cook it, I'm a convert!
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To cause to turn; to turn.
O, which way shall I first convert myself?
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to convert water into ice.
If the whole atmosphere were converted into water.
That still lessensThe sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To change or turn from one belief or course to another, as from one religion to another or from one party or sect to another.
No attempt was made to convert the Moslems.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To produce the spiritual change called conversion in (any one); to turn from a bad life to a good one; to change the heart and moral character of (any one) from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness.
He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To apply to any use by a diversion from the proper or intended use; to appropriate dishonestly or illegally.
When a bystander took a coin to get it changed, and converted it, [it was] held no larceny.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To exchange for some specified equivalent; as, to convert goods into money.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To turn into another language; to translate.
Which story . . . Catullus more elegantly converted.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To be turned or changed in character or direction; to undergo a change, physically or morally.
If Nebo had had the preaching that thou hast, they [the Neboites] would have converted.
A red dust which converth into worms.
The public hopeAnd eye to thee converting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
A person who is converted from one opinion or practice to another; a person who is won over to, or heartily embraces, a creed, religious system, or party, in which he has not previously believed; especially, one who turns from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness, or from unbelief to Christianity.
The Jesuits did not persuade the converts to lay aside the use of images.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
A lay friar or brother, permitted to enter a monastery for the service of the house, but without orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
A person who has been converted to another religious or political belief
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Change the nature, purpose, or function of something;
Convert lead into gold
Convert hotels into jails
Convert slaves to laborers
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy;
We converted from 220 to 110 Volt
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Change religious beliefs, or adopt a religious belief;
She converted to Buddhism
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category;
Could you convert my dollars into pounds?
He changed his name
Convert centimeters into inches
Convert holdings into shares
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Cause to adopt a new or different faith;
The missionaries converted the Indian population
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Score an extra point or points after touchdown by kicking the ball through the uprights or advancing the ball into the endzone;
Smith converted and his team won
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something;
He had finally convinced several customers of the advantages of his product
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
Change in nature, purpose, or function; especially undergo a chemical change;
The substance converts to an acid
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Oct 19, 2023
Convert
To change something into a different form.
He converted the spare room into a home office.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Convert
To change or adapt to a new purpose.
The factory was converted into luxury apartments.
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Dec 06, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Does convert always imply a complete change?
Not always; it can be partial or functional.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
What does convert mean in a general sense?
It means to change something into a different form or state.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Is transform often used to describe physical changes?
Yes, like in renovations or personal makeovers.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Does transform imply a deeper change than convert?
Generally, yes, it suggests more fundamental changes.
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Dec 06, 2023
What does transform typically mean?
It means a significant or complete change in form or nature.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is "transform" more about profound changes compared to "convert"?
Yes, "transform" typically implies a deeper or more fundamental change compared to "convert."
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Dec 06, 2023
Is convert used in technology?
Yes, like converting file formats or data types.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Can convert be a physical change?
Yes, like converting a room for a different use.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Are these words used differently in scientific contexts?
They can be used interchangeably in some scientific contexts, but the choice may depend on the specific nuances of the change being described.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can convert imply a change in belief?
Yes, it often refers to changing religious or political beliefs.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can a business be transformed?
Yes, often through major strategic or operational changes.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is there an idiomatic expression involving "transform"?
There isn't a common idiomatic expression with "transform" comparable to "convert a blind eye."
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Dec 06, 2023
What is a religious conversion?
Religious conversion is when someone adopts a new religious belief or changes their faith.
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Dec 06, 2023
What is the meaning of "convert a blind eye"?
This phrase means to ignore or overlook something intentionally.
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Dec 06, 2023
What does "transform into a pumpkin" mean?
This humorous phrase refers to a sudden and drastic change in someone's appearance or behavior, often implying a negative transformation.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is there a difference in connotation between "convert" and "transform"?
"Transform" tends to have a more dramatic or profound connotation, while "convert" may imply a less significant change.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
In computer programming, what is data conversion?
Data conversion is the process of changing data from one format or type to another, like converting text to numbers.
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Dec 06, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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