instead of

preposition

in·​stead of in-ˈste-də(v) How to pronounce instead of (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With Venus entering Taurus on June 6, there's a groundedness in love and value that supports you in savoring instead of sprinting. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2025 Innovation keeps moving instead of hitting red tape. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025 What would normally take a hacker six-eight months to write, code-wise, now takes them days instead of months. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 1 Aug. 2025 The air resonates with a twang of country music, the kind with steel guitar instead of autotune. Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for instead of

Word History

Etymology

Middle English in sted of

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instead of was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instead of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead%20of. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

instead of

preposition
in-ˌsted-ə(v),
-ˌstid-
: in place of : as a substitute for
had milk instead of juice

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