instead

adverb

in·stead | \ in-ˈsted

Definition of instead

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 More Example Sentences Learn More about instead

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Examples of instead in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The college was founded by Emily Ward, who opened the school because there was no official childcare training at the time; instead, household staff were expected to look after children as part of their duties. — Annabelle Spranklen, Town & Country, "Here's What It Takes to Become a Nanny for the British Royal Family," 9 Mar. 2019 Qualcomm isn’t exactly throwing the bleeding-edge solutions under the bus, instead positioning its upcoming chip as the next generation. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Qualcomm's next Snapdragon chip suggests 2020 really will be the year of 5G phones," 25 Feb. 2019 Gradually, bit by bit, the red states are becoming rainbow instead. — Samantha Allen, Seventeen, "LGBTQ Teens Don't Need To Leave Red States For College," 19 Feb. 2019 Holmes chose to focus instead on her work as an actor, producer, and director, and her low-key life with daughter Suri in New York City. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Literally Every Single Thing We Know About Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx's Relationship," 28 Jan. 2019 Sans boyfriend Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart opted for boyfriend jeans instead. — Kelsey Stiegman, Seventeen, "10 Instagram-Worthy Ways to Wear Boyfriend Jeans," 8 Jan. 2019 This time, the show chooses to literally close the doors on the attack itself, instead focusing on the tavern patrons' indifference to (and in some cases, bemusement at) Brianna's screams and cries from the back. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Outlander's Sophie Skelton Breaks Down Brianna's Harrowing Assault," 24 Dec. 2018 The falling plane tree leaves would adorn her instead. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Wallis Simpson Is Buried on the Grounds of Frogmore House, the Place Meghan Markle Will Soon Call Home," 9 Dec. 2018 The idea, essentially, is to avoid looking at it as a roadblock, and instead focus on my relationship with anxiety. — Deanna Debara, Glamour, "Anxiety Can Be a Good Thing—Here’s How I Make Mine Work for Me," 6 Dec. 2018

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