as in to mix
to place or do (different things) so that one follows the other in a repeated series
To make the appetizer, you should alternate layers of tomatoes and cheese. The poem alternates fear and hope.
Related Words
Relevance
1
as in alternative
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in backup
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in seasonal
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in substitute
Related Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of alternate
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
The east lane of the Gatún locks was closed for dry lock maintenance from June 9-17, forcing arriving vessels to alternate in a single lane.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Then came 13 birdies over the next 30 holes, a spot in the qualifier playoff and, ultimately, first-alternate status.
—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
An Olympic alternate and World team champion with Team USA, Roberson was considered a top recruit by more than a dozen collegiate programs.
—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Verb
On off days in the villa, the boys and girls would alternate every other week to split the responsibility.
—
Francesca Gariano,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
The east lane of the Gatún locks was closed for dry lock maintenance from June 9-17, forcing arriving vessels to alternate in a single lane.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
Walnut trees have an alternate branching pattern and produce large, pinnately compound leaves.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Then came 13 birdies over the next 30 holes, a spot in the qualifier playoff and, ultimately, first-alternate status.
—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Noun
On Monday, 13 people, including an alternate, were selected after several hours of jury selection.
—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
An Olympic alternate and World team champion with Team USA, Roberson was considered a top recruit by more than a dozen collegiate programs.
—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
-
Swept away The high altitude in Denver can cause certain pitch types to go awry, but Gray had the benefit of being able to mix and match from his expansive repertoire.
-
The restaurant makes refined regional favorites like ceviche colimense and his tostada de pozole seco, and mixes cocktails with tuba.
Adjective
-
The warning came after a key naval information group had proposed alternative shipping corridors on Saturday, asking shipowners to consider transiting the strait along the southern route with their transponder signals on.
-
The White House’s Iran negotiations rely on the dollar’s leverage, but Tehran has blunted that weapon by using alternative financial architecture, The Wall Street Journal reported, including payments in yuan or cryptocurrency, and adopting a Chinese alternative to the Swift banking network.
Adjective
-
Sure, having a ridiculous number of backup products would ensure that there is no need unaddressed, mass considerations for spaceflight are extremely serious and future missions will need to have better data to know what will be needed in a microgravity environment.
-
Other essentials include international health insurance, knowledge of visa and tax requirements, backup power solutions and emergency savings to handle travel disruptions.
Adjective
-
Miniso aims to bring the element of surprise to each visit, according to its website, combining new arrivals with seasonal good and exclusive collaborations.
-
This seasonal turn pulls you toward a time of reflection.
Noun
-
Koulibaly misjudged a clearance and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was unable to keep out substitute Marcus Pedersen’s rasping shot to give Norway the lead close to halftime.
-
Goldman Sachs recently highlighted this complexity by describing AI as both a complement and a substitute for labor depending upon the nature of the work involved.
Verb
-
The gel-cream combines hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol, and squalane to hydrate and soothe without feeling greasy.
-
Speculation over the relationship between Brown and Tatum has been regularly a storyline in Boston, but the pair combined to lead the Celtics to a championship in 2024 and Brown was named Finals MVP.
Adjective
-
Marc Moore and his neighbors along the Long Beach Peninsula have spent night after recent night watching the water spill over makeshift sand berms and wood panels put up to try to hold the ocean’s force back.
-
Shortly after, cinematographer Pat Scola’s overhead view of a makeshift cemetery is a stunner.
Adjective
-
Under these, General Atomics and Anduril are tasked by the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program to develop their prototype YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A aircraft into serial production as the FQ-42A and FQ-44.
-
Three men, including Jackman, have all been tied to serial rapes in the Westport area in the 1980s.
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
