instead of

preposition

in·​stead of in-ˈste-də(v) 

-ˈsti-

: in place of : as a substitute for or alternative to

chose tea instead of coffee

Examples of instead of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sunny Nights needs a character like Nova because, especially in the middle of the season, the crime side of the narrative begins to spin its wheels, showing the strain of a story that might have been better-suited for six half-hour episodes instead of eight hour-longs. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026

Only instead of music, Millner was using his graphic design skills to help promote Bowling’s food. —Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2026

So if those pests show up, instead of one or two plants dying, all of them do. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Instead, the president proposed an alternative draft law suggesting national resources that could be used instead of European loans to pay for further investments in defense. —Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English in sted of

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for instead of

• above
• foxglove
• hereof
• thereof
• whereof
• dove
• glove
• love
• shove
• hereinabove

Kids Definition

instead of

preposition

in-ˌsted-ə(v), 

-ˌstid-

: in place of : as a substitute for

had milk instead of juice