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
Examples of instead in a Sentence
I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Staples did not come out and reprise her vocal on that song, a duty that was instead ably taken over by the night’s backup troupe, the McCrary Sisters.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024
In countries as far-flung as Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Botswana, animals that are the mainstays of many small farms—where donkeys are used for plowing, hauling crops to market, and many other purposes—are instead being slaughtered for the cash value of their skins.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2024
Aside from training him to fight, Marty rarely showed Feldman love, instead flinging pots and pans at him while drinking half-gallon bottles of scotch at the kitchen table.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
The director of the 2023 Frankfurt production didn’t set the story in any specific time or place and instead focused on Cio-Cio San’s desire to move up in the world.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
The full moon in April instead gets its name from one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Doing away with a conventional dial, hands, and crown, The Freak instead proposed a new system built around a one-hour, orbiting carousel containing parts of the automatic movement — a movement that, in a watch-industry first, featured a silicon escapement.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
Don't rely on pre-squeezed lime and grapefruit juices for your Hemingway Daiquiri; instead, purchase fresh limes and grapefruits and squeeze your own.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024
Sol’s mother, Alicia Alvarez, was due next week, Methodist Health System spokesman Ryan Owens said, but her baby instead arrived at 1:04 p.m. as the rest of the town was gazing at the sky.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2024
In countries as far-flung as Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Botswana, animals that are the mainstays of many small farms—where donkeys are used for plowing, hauling crops to market, and many other purposes—are instead being slaughtered for the cash value of their skins.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2024
Aside from training him to fight, Marty rarely showed Feldman love, instead flinging pots and pans at him while drinking half-gallon bottles of scotch at the kitchen table.
—Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024
The director of the 2023 Frankfurt production didn’t set the story in any specific time or place and instead focused on Cio-Cio San’s desire to move up in the world.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024
The full moon in April instead gets its name from one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024
Doing away with a conventional dial, hands, and crown, The Freak instead proposed a new system built around a one-hour, orbiting carousel containing parts of the automatic movement — a movement that, in a watch-industry first, featured a silicon escapement.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
Don't rely on pre-squeezed lime and grapefruit juices for your Hemingway Daiquiri; instead, purchase fresh limes and grapefruits and squeeze your own.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2024
Sol’s mother, Alicia Alvarez, was due next week, Methodist Health System spokesman Ryan Owens said, but her baby instead arrived at 1:04 p.m. as the rest of the town was gazing at the sky.
—Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near instead
Cite this Entry
“Instead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instead
adverb
in·stead
in-ˈsted 
: as a substitute
was going to write but called instead
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