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
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The fact Marjan finally missed his first attempt as a Jayhawk — and the fact Arizona went on to march 80 yards in eight plays and score a game-winning TD — left KU’s fifth-year coach needing to explain his decision to kick instead of go for a first down on fourth-and-2 at the 11-yard-line.
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Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025
Students who spend three years in medical school instead of four have lower debt and get to a higher salary sooner, said Caroline Roberts, a family physician and director of rural education at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine.
—Tribune News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
The rubber outsole delivers great traction and flexibility, and the Ghillie lacing system uses loops instead of eyelets to better enhance the overall snugness and stability of the shoe once it's tied.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
By my calculations, paying the loan now, instead of continuing with minimum payments, would save me somewhere between $400 and $500 in interest.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
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Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025
Students who spend three years in medical school instead of four have lower debt and get to a higher salary sooner, said Caroline Roberts, a family physician and director of rural education at the University of North Carolina’s School of Medicine.
—Tribune News Service, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
The rubber outsole delivers great traction and flexibility, and the Ghillie lacing system uses loops instead of eyelets to better enhance the overall snugness and stability of the shoe once it's tied.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
By my calculations, paying the loan now, instead of continuing with minimum payments, would save me somewhere between $400 and $500 in interest.
—Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instead of
Cite this Entry
“Instead of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead%20of. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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