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
Norris supports paper ballots instead of voting machines, according to his campaign website.
—
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Examples cited include students using inefficient workarounds for simple tasks, such as manually spacing text instead of using formatting tools.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Jordan is excited to finally live close enough to bike to school instead of taking the bus.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Think drink can also be served with nitro cold brew instead of espresso for a stronger coffee taste.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instead of
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Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Examples cited include students using inefficient workarounds for simple tasks, such as manually spacing text instead of using formatting tools.
—Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Jordan is excited to finally live close enough to bike to school instead of taking the bus.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Think drink can also be served with nitro cold brew instead of espresso for a stronger coffee taste.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
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 2 Apr. 2026.
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