alternate

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adjective al·ter·nate \ US and Canadian ˈȯl-tər-nət also ˈal- ; chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər- \

Definition of alternate

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

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 2

did not approve of their son's alternate lifestyle

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alternately

adverb

See alternate defined for English-language learners

See alternate defined for kids

Examples of alternate in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of alternate from the Web

In his alternate reality of the world, Trump refuses to see that more than seven decades after the Holocaust, Jews in America are still being persecuted.

— dahleen glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Donald Trump stands with bigots. Where will you stand?," 16 Aug. 2017
That turns the White House on alternate days into an amazing combination of Advise and Consent and Hellzapoppin’ or a Marx Brothers movie in which Trump is played Groucho Marx.

— john o'sullivan, National Review, "The Trump Era as Unintended Political Satire — Recalling Peter Simple," 4 Aug. 2017
In the event the Winner doesn't respond to Sponsor's notification or does not accept the prize within five (5) business days of notification, the prize will be deemed forfeited and an alternate Winner will be selected.

— Country Living, "Find the Horseshoe Sweepstakes September 2017," 25 July 2017
Drivers were urged to find alternate routes during the closure.

— robert a. cronkleton, kansascity, "Missouri 7 near U.S. 40 in Blue Springs is closed after crane truck tips over," 24 July 2017
Motorists were urged to avoid the area and find alternate routes.

— toriano porter, kansascity, "Southbound I-435 past 23rd Street back open after wreck, vehicle fire," 18 July 2017
Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes around Valleydale Road.

— amy yurkanin, AL.com, "Valleydale Road reopened after morning flooding," 16 July 2017
Instead, the church has begun planning an alternate type of event.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Are West Side church festivals losing their luster?," 14 July 2017
Shipping companies have set up alternate routes to get supplies in without going through the blockading countries, and flag carrier Qatar Airways continues to operate its 200-strong fleet by detouring over friendlier airspace.

— Washington Post, "Top US diplomat wraps up Gulf tour, but impasse grinds on," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alternate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of alternate

Latin alternatus, past participle of alternare, from alternus alternate, from alter other

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1535

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alternate

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verb al·ter·nate \ ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt also ˈal- \

Definition of alternate

alternated; alternating

transitive verb

1 :to perform by turns or in succession

alternated comedies and dramas

2 :to cause to alternate

intransitive verb

:to change from one to another repeatedly

Rain alternated with sun.

See alternate defined for English-language learners

Examples of alternate in a Sentence

The poem alternates fear and hope.
The light and dark woods alternate to form an elegant pattern around the window.

Recent Examples of alternate from the Web

Her posts were followed almost entirely by snake emoji: snakes piled on snakes, snakes arranged numerically, snakes alternating with pigs.

— WIRED, "Instagram’s Kevin Systrom Wants to Clean Up the Internet," 14 Aug. 2017
Step 7: Rotate each crosscut section 90 degrees, alternating between turning them to the left and the right to create a mirrored pattern in the grain.

— dave ball, Popular Mechanics, "How to Make a Butcherblock," 2 Aug. 2017
The DA’s office fields complaints from a dedicated phone line (1-800-510-2020) and, on an alternating monthly basis, referrals from the state Community Licensing Division, the agency that oversees assisted-living facilities.

— joshua stewart, sandiegouniontribune.com, "As San Diego gets older, county puts assisted-living facilities up for review," 1 Aug. 2017
During the speech to about 40,000 scouts the U.S. president regularly alternated between apolitical comments to inspire the group of young boys, and deeply partisan attacks on his political opponents.

— Bloomberg.com, "Your Evening Briefing," 25 July 2017
On vocals, Jones alternates between hooky crooning and spazzy yelping.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "With Putting Off Death, their first album in six years, veteran art-rock oddballs Cheer-Accident continue to confound," 20 July 2017
The Hardrock is a point-to-point race that alternates directions every year.

— Alaska Dispatch News, "Kilian Jornet’s legend grows: Former Mount Marathon champ wins 100-miler with dislocated shoulder," 16 July 2017
Participating officers will alternate days to wear each camera in order to test both, said Maj.

— kate magill, Columbia Flier, "Howard police to launch pilot body camera program Friday," 13 July 2017
The next several years were marked by alternating declarations of additional nuclear tests and promises to freeze or dismantle the program.

— noelle swan, The Christian Science Monitor, "North Korea missile test: How big a technological breakthrough?," 5 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of alternate

see ¹alternate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1605

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alternate

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noun al·ter·nate \ same as ¹alternate \

Definition of alternate

1 :alternative

2 :one that substitutes for or alternates with another

They chose twelve jurors and two alternates.

See alternate defined for English-language learners

Examples of alternate in a Sentence

The town has elected five councilors and two alternates.

Recent Examples of alternate from the Web

Working with Pentagon ethics attorneys, Shanahan designated a screener and an alternate in his office, Higgins said.

— tony capaccio, The Seattle Times, "Patrick Shanahan, Pentagon’s No. 2, sets up alert system on his ex-employer Boeing," 26 Aug. 2017
A Jersey girl, Purrazzo’s been impressive, earning a spot as an alternate for the WWE Mae Young Classic.

— jim varsallone, miamiherald, "Mae Young Classic alternate Purrazzo helps lead ROH Women of Honor," 25 Aug. 2017
The four alternates include a finance director at a pharmaceutical company, a homemaker and a retired Department of Homeland Security technician.

— david voreacos, Bloomberg.com, "Menendez Corruption Trial Jury Includes Mail Carrier, Librarian," 23 Aug. 2017
Praised for his accurate and almost documentary-life presentation and focus on the racing itself, this Steve McQueen flick highlights the world-famous 24-hour Le Mans race in France in which two drivers per car alternate.

— ben flanagan | bflanagan@al.com, AL.com, "17 racing movies to zoom through before catching 'Logan Lucky' with Channing Tatum," 18 Aug. 2017
The volume comes from the bristles, which alternate between short, silicone nubs that help apply the mascara to build volume, and long comb-like arms that separate and fan individual hairs.

— erin reimel, Glamour, "I'm Literally Addicted to Urban Decay's Troublemaker Mascara," 17 Aug. 2017
He was named a Pro Bowl alternate after his second season.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Jason Verrett outlook post-ACL," 15 Aug. 2017
Slices of raw hiramasa alternate with precisely cut radishes and are served with serrano chile emulsion and charred onion powder; a whole dry-aged Peking duck comes with arepas instead of Chinese pancakes.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
Right back in, repeat, alternate, until the end of the song.

— the healthyish team, Bon Appetit, "Healthyish Escapes," 10 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of alternate

see ¹alternate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1717

See Words from the same year

ALTERNATE Defined for English Language Learners

alternate

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adjective

Definition of alternate for English Language Learners

: occurring in or forming a repeated series
—used to describe something that happens one time, does not happen the next time, happens again, etc.
: other than the usual

alternate

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verb

Definition of alternate for English Language Learners

: to place or do (different things) so that one follows the other in a repeated series

alternate

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noun

Definition of alternate for English Language Learners

: someone who is chosen to take another person's place if that person is not able to be present or to do a required job

ALTERNATE Defined for Kids

alternate

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adjective al·ter·nate \ ˈȯl-tər-nət \

Definition of alternate for Students

1 :occurring or following by turns

alternate sunshine and rain

2 :arranged one above, beside, or next to another

alternate layers of cake and filling

3 :every other :every second

We meet on alternate days.

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alternately

adverb

alternate

play

verb al·ter·nate \ ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt \

Definition of alternate for Students

alternated; alternating

:to take place or cause to take place by turns

She alternated between running and lifting weights.

alternate

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noun al·ter·nate \ ˈȯl-tər-nət \

Definition of alternate for Students

:a person named to take the place of another whenever necessary They were chosen as alternates to attend the convention.

Law Dictionary

alternate

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adjective al·ter·nate \ ˈȯl-tər-nət, ˈal- \

legal Definition of alternate

1 :occurring or succeeding by turns

2 :being an alternative

alternate juror

alternate

noun

legal Definition of alternate

1 :alternative

2 :one that substitutes for another

twelve jurors and three alternates

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ALTERNATE Defined for English Language Learners

alternate

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alternate

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alternate

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ALTERNATE Defined for Kids

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alternately

alternate

Definition of alternate for Students

alternate

Definition of alternate for Students

Law Dictionary

alternate

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alternate

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