alternate

1 of 3

adjective

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

alternate

2 of 3

verb

al·​ter·​nate ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt 

also ˈal-

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.

alternate

3 of 3

noun

al·​ter·​nate

US and Canadian

ˈȯl-tər-nət 

also ˈal-;

chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər-

1

: alternative

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

There is also an alternate halftime show planned by Turning Point USA, the conservative organization cofounded by late activist Charlie Kirk, to compete with Bad Bunny's performance. —Kate Perez, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026

Tenants speaking to the town council Monday said JRK initially directed them to use their renter’s insurance to pay for alternate lodging; the company later agreed to pay those expenses after talking with town officials. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026

Verb

The upper sat on an oversize block platform wrapped in alternating black-and-white horizontal stripes, while a thin, high heel dropped straight from the back of the shoe to the floor. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 7 Feb. 2026

When looking at Mound, Richardson, Lanana, for example, a viewer can focus on how it is divided into three equal parts from left to right, or on its alternating light-and-dark grid of diamonds, or on the smallest, 9-by-9 grid of stitched squares. —Benjamin Lima special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026

Noun

Ruohonen, a 54-year-old alternate, would be the oldest American to compete in a Winter Olympics in any medal sport if he is called into action. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026

To seat a jury of eight with four alternates, the defense notes, the court must qualify at least 43 jurors, something attorneys argue is unlikely given the number of disqualifications already identified. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Latin alternātus, past participle of alternāre "to ebb and flow, act in alternation, arrange in alternating order," verbal derivative of alternus "alternating, successive, every other," from alter "second, other" + -nus, adjective suffix, probably after distributive adjectives such as quaternī "four each, four apiece" — more at alter

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

• alternate angle

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 noun

1

: alternative

2

: one that substitutes for another

twelve jurors and three alternates