How to Use instead in a Sentence

instead

adverb
  • I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead.
  • The letter alleged that the unit was ordered to take Pavlovka, but instead, half the unit’s equipment was destroyed over four days.
    Patrick Smith, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2022
  • Given that younger consumers are migrating to streaming services, the revolution may not be televised to a mass audience but instead will be streamed to die-hard fans.
    Josh Woods, Chron, 7 Nov. 2022
  • When the parade was over, the third judge ignored our attempts to tally the scores and instead chose every winner herself, then presented her choices to the committee in charge.
    Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2022
  • Another concern may be that most of the attention obtained by radical actions is not about the issue, focusing instead on what the protesters did.
    Colin Davis, CNN, 26 Oct. 2022
  • Lamont instead supported a larger state tax credit for working poor households — but not until returns are filed in early 2024.
    Hartford Courant, 26 Oct. 2022
  • Her usual basketball stage was instead a platform in the parking lot of the St. Matthews Mall and her audience was a small — and adorable — crowd of 20 children.
    Alexis Cubit, The Courier-Journal, 7 Nov. 2022
  • Taylor instead shared a letter that was posted on Duran Duran’s webpage and which Le Bon read onstage at the ceremony.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2022
  • If that's the case for you, try out the exercise in a sumo stance instead.
    Tony Gentilcore, Men's Health, 30 Nov. 2022
  • But as the set rolled on, the focus turned instead to the group’s enduring strengths.
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024
  • Cats got that release date instead, and that went great.
    Vulture, 20 June 2023
  • With the weather setback, Sims worked with the dancers and cast on a soundstage instead.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 22 June 2023
  • The main difference is the G3 comes without a stand, instead meant to be mounted on the wall.
    Condé Nast, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2023
  • Seilheimer cooked up a chowder that swapped out clams for the snails instead.
    Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2023
  • Smith instead worked a five-pitch walk and came around to score on a Marcus Semien single.
    Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 13 May 2023
  • Step up your fashion game with this stylish high-neck tank top instead.
    Kirsten Chanel Webber, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024
  • Shortly after, he was sent the script for Home Alone instead.
    Taylor Murphy, Good Housekeeping, 18 Nov. 2022
  • The authors of the new study suggest that purring instead results from the laryngeal pads of cats.
    Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
  • Stop using copy-and-paste templates and stores—instead, be unique.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • But could Tehran instead be prepared to pull back in exchange for progress on Gaza peace talks?
    Nic Robertson, CNN, 8 Aug. 2024
  • The lore of how painful a Brazilian wax can be has most opting for their trusty razor instead.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2023
  • In the late 1970s, Americans didn’t drink wine, opting instead for liquor and beer.
    Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2023
  • Now, instead, the bear goes on a rampage and brutally mauls a bunch of people.
    James Grebey, Vulture, 24 Feb. 2023
  • 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
  • The student didn't touch the gun and instead went to notify a teacher of the weapon, according to the news station.
    Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2023
  • The men debated whether to hang him again but banished him from the region instead.
    David Reamer | Alaska History, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2023
  • Some customers even got creative with it and filled the pumpkin with string lights instead.
    Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2024
  • Bell went with Lucas Sims instead, and Sims couldn’t have pitched much better.
    Bobby Nightengale, The Enquirer, 3 May 2023
  • The Times noted that the show was not destined for New York, but would instead travel to 25 other cities.
    Emmett Lindner, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2022
  • Looking for Friday’s Connections hints and answers instead?
    Kris Holt, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

Some of 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.

Last Updated: