instead

adverb

in·​stead in-ˈsted 

1

: as a substitute or equivalent

was going to write but called instead

2

: as an alternative to something expressed or implied : rather

longed instead for a quiet country life

Synonyms of instead

• rather

Examples of instead in a Sentence

I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead.

Recent Examples on the Web

Live Nation managed to squash calls for a full divestiture of Ticketmaster, including from within the US government’s own antitrust division, instead settling with the DOJ days before trial. —Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 17 Mar. 2026

Carie Hallford, 48, faced up to 20 years in prison for taking over $130,000 from families for funeral services, including cremations, and often giving them urns full of concrete mix instead. —Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026

This is a scent that doesn’t announce your presence upon entry, but instead hugs you intimately, close to the skin. —Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2026

The International Surface Fabricators Association, representing countertop vendors, has pushed back against calls to ban quartz countertops, proposing instead the certification and licensing of fabrication shops. —Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing instead

• instead of

Rhymes for instead

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead

Kids Definition

instead

adverb

in·​stead in-ˈsted 

: as a substitute

was going to write but called instead