al·ter·nate
US and Canadian
ˈȯl-tər-nət
also ˈal-;
chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər-
1
: occurring or succeeding by turns
a day of alternate sunshine and rain
2
a
: arranged first on one side and then on the other at different levels or points along an axial line
a plant with alternate leaves
compare opposite entry 1
b
: arranged one above or alongside the other
alternate layers of brick and stone
3
: every other : every second
He works on alternate days.
4
: constituting an alternative
took the alternate route home
5
: alternative sense 2
did not approve of their son's alternate lifestyle
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt
also ˈal-
alternated; alternating
1
: to perform by turns or in succession
alternated comedies and dramas
2
: to cause to alternate
: to change from one to another repeatedly
Rain alternated with sun.
al·ter·nate
US and Canadian
ˈȯl-tər-nət
also ˈal-;
chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər-
1
2
: one that substitutes for or alternates with another
They chose twelve jurors and two alternates.
Examples of alternate in a Sentence
Adjective
Alternate shades of wood formed a pattern around the window.
We took an alternate route because of the traffic.
Due to an emergency, the plane landed at an alternate airport.
Verb
The poem alternates fear and hope.
The light and dark woods alternate to form an elegant pattern around the window.
Noun
The town has elected five councilors and two alternates.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
He was exonerated in the killing of Malcolm X but his fight for justice is not over
Behenna added the defense alleges that their alternate suspect was identified in one of the lineups.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
The entertainer also had an alternate career as a restaurateur and owned several bars and restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
—Nardine Saad Los Angeles Times (tns), al, 19 Sep. 2023
In addition to Marchand, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Carlo, all of whom served as alternate captains last season, fall into that category.
—Jim McBride, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023
But if there’s lingering water on the tops of your upside-down cups, dishware crevices, and more, finding an alternate drying method might still be key.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2023
Digital privacy legislation is one alternate policy path that might shift the online landscape for the better.
—Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2023
Van Damme plays an alternate version of Johnny Cage, the fictional Hollywood star created to lampoon and satirize him.
—Gene Park, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
This is not the first time the Maui Invitational will be held at an alternate location; it was moved to Asheville, N.C., during the 2020-21 season because of COVID-19 restrictions in Hawaii.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Manuel Rueda The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023
With mixer running on low speed, gradually add flour mixture and milk, in alternating batches, to butter mixture, starting and ending with flour and making sure each addition is fully incorporated before adding the next.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2023
The couple opted for a four-tiered creation, with alternating chocolate and red velvet layers.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2023
During this time, alternating humid and arid climatic cycles were more rhythmic and in greater magnitude than earlier in this time period.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Then, alternate the shiny strips of roasted pepper and anchovy fillets, and add a few slices of fresh mozzarella.
—David Tanis, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
Last year’s offense was guided by a pair of senior quarterbacks, Parlan Sanders and Nico Tomasello, who alternated almost every series.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Washington tends to alternate between action movies and prestige Oscar projects.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Aug. 2023
Assisted by her main producer, Dan Nigro, the music alternated between quiet-then-heavy ballads and upbeat pastiches of punk and emo classics.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2023
Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2023
The procedure of jury selection, or voir dire, allows the two sides to winnow down a broader pool of potential jurors to just 12, plus a few alternates, who ultimately will hear the case.
—Byleo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 12 Sep. 2023
These championships included four members of the Tokyo team — Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee — and two Tokyo alternates, Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong.
—Carla Correa, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
In all, 56 prospective jurors were interviewed before the final 12 were chosen along with three alternates.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023
Four of the jurors were designated as alternates when the jury began deliberations.
—USA TODAY, 27 July 2023
As The Associated Press reports, 14 jurors (including two alternates) were seated without objections from the prosecution or defense.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2023
On July 11, two groups of 23 Fulton County residents and three alternates were selected to be grand jurors.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 17 July 2023
Twelve jurors and six alternates – chosen Thursday from among more than 200 candidates – are hearing the case.
—Peter Smith, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2023
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Adjective
Luckily, most of the ones here have some alternate versions that change up the fit.
—Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
He was exonerated in the killing of Malcolm X but his fight for justice is not over
Behenna added the defense alleges that their alternate suspect was identified in one of the lineups.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
The entertainer also had an alternate career as a restaurateur and owned several bars and restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
—Nardine Saad Los Angeles Times (tns), al, 19 Sep. 2023
In addition to Marchand, David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Carlo, all of whom served as alternate captains last season, fall into that category.
—Jim McBride, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2023
But if there’s lingering water on the tops of your upside-down cups, dishware crevices, and more, finding an alternate drying method might still be key.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2023
Digital privacy legislation is one alternate policy path that might shift the online landscape for the better.
—Lauren Leffer, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2023
Van Damme plays an alternate version of Johnny Cage, the fictional Hollywood star created to lampoon and satirize him.
—Gene Park, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2023
This is not the first time the Maui Invitational will be held at an alternate location; it was moved to Asheville, N.C., during the 2020-21 season because of COVID-19 restrictions in Hawaii.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Verb
In 1978 Botero returned to painting, and then alternated between the two disciplines.
—Manuel Rueda The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023
With mixer running on low speed, gradually add flour mixture and milk, in alternating batches, to butter mixture, starting and ending with flour and making sure each addition is fully incorporated before adding the next.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2023
The couple opted for a four-tiered creation, with alternating chocolate and red velvet layers.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2023
During this time, alternating humid and arid climatic cycles were more rhythmic and in greater magnitude than earlier in this time period.
—Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
Then, alternate the shiny strips of roasted pepper and anchovy fillets, and add a few slices of fresh mozzarella.
—David Tanis, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
Last year’s offense was guided by a pair of senior quarterbacks, Parlan Sanders and Nico Tomasello, who alternated almost every series.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023
Washington tends to alternate between action movies and prestige Oscar projects.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Aug. 2023
Assisted by her main producer, Dan Nigro, the music alternated between quiet-then-heavy ballads and upbeat pastiches of punk and emo classics.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2023
Noun
The 2024 convention is expected to draw 5,000 to 7,000 delegates and alternates and bring about 50,000 visitors to the Windy City.
—Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2023
The procedure of jury selection, or voir dire, allows the two sides to winnow down a broader pool of potential jurors to just 12, plus a few alternates, who ultimately will hear the case.
—Byleo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 12 Sep. 2023
These championships included four members of the Tokyo team — Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee — and two Tokyo alternates, Kayla DiCello and Leanne Wong.
—Carla Correa, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2023
In all, 56 prospective jurors were interviewed before the final 12 were chosen along with three alternates.
—Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023
Four of the jurors were designated as alternates when the jury began deliberations.
—USA TODAY, 27 July 2023
As The Associated Press reports, 14 jurors (including two alternates) were seated without objections from the prosecution or defense.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 June 2023
On July 11, two groups of 23 Fulton County residents and three alternates were selected to be grand jurors.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 17 July 2023
Twelve jurors and six alternates – chosen Thursday from among more than 200 candidates – are hearing the case.
—Peter Smith, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alternate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin alternatus, past participle of alternare, from alternus alternate, from alter other
Verb
borrowed from Latin alternātus, past participle of alternāre "to ebb and flow, act in alternation, arrange in alternating order" — more at alternate entry 1
Noun
derivative of alternate entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
circa 1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1717, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing alternate
Articles Related to alternate
Dictionary Entries Near alternate
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternate. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
alternate
1 of 3 adjective
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-nət
also ˈal-
1
: occurring or following by turns
a day of alternate sunshine and rain
2
a
: occurring first on one side and then on the other at different levels along an axis
alternate leaves on a plant stem
b
: arranged one above, beside, or next to another
alternate layers of meat and cheese
3
: every other : every second
works on alternate days
4
: being one of the things between which a choice is to be made
we took an alternate route
alternately
adverb
alternate
2 of 3 verb
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt
also ˈal-
alternated; alternating
1
: to do, occur, or act by turns
2
: to cause to alternate
alternate
3 of 3 noun
al·ter·nate
-nət
: a person named to take the place of another when necessary
Legal Definition
alternate
1 of 2 adjective
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-nət, ˈal-
1
: occurring or succeeding by turns
2
: being an alternative
alternate juror
alternate
2 of 2 noun1
2
: one that substitutes for another
twelve jurors and three alternates
More from Merriam-Webster on alternate
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alternate
Nglish: Translation of alternate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of alternate for Arabic Speakers
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