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
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Recent Examples of alternate
Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Then add kitchen scraps and green clippings, and continue alternating layers.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Over five seasons, For All Mankind has been one of the smartest, most thrilling series on TV, presenting an alternate history in which the Soviets made it to the moon first.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 29 May 2026
ABC News, 11 May 2026
If a potential winner fails to respond to notification, fails to return required documents on time, is found to be ineligible, or otherwise fails to comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate, in Sponsor’s discretion.
—AJC.com, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Verb
Rupert was transported to the hospital and genetic testing led to him being diagnosed with alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) in January 2026.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Then add kitchen scraps and green clippings, and continue alternating layers.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 24 May 2026
Adjective
The team also announced Minnesota Wild Assistant General Manager Michael Murray will serve as governor of the Iowa Wild and Iowa Wild Vice President of Business Operations Allie Korinek and Iowa Wild General Manager Matt Hendricks will serve as alternate governors for the franchise.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Over five seasons, For All Mankind has been one of the smartest, most thrilling series on TV, presenting an alternate history in which the Soviets made it to the moon first.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Noun
Tom Hoge got in as an alternate when Jake Knapp was forced to withdraw with a thumb injury.
—ABC News, 11 May 2026
If a potential winner fails to respond to notification, fails to return required documents on time, is found to be ineligible, or otherwise fails to comply with these Official Rules, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate, in Sponsor’s discretion.
—AJC.com, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
-
Portraits of the Hobhouse family, who lived here for more than two centuries, hang alongside tapestry wall trophies in the drawing room, while the teal bar mixes original cornicing with vibrant bamboo chairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
From Stonewall’s 1969 uprising to today’s golf tournaments, human rights summits and bar crawls, Pride events in Los Angeles, New York and global cities mix festival energy with defiance.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Such concerns have already spurred the Gulf’s major oil producers to utilize and invest in alternative export routes.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
The team believes alternative battery chemistries will be necessary as demand for energy storage continues to grow alongside the expansion of renewable power generation.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Every business trip now includes backup flights, refundable bookings, and extra insurance.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Hawks, whose only other offer was from North Texas, will immediately compete for a backup job at tackle behind Cantwell and Matthew McCoy.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The next seasonal blue moon will fall on May 20, 2027, Time and Date said.—
Hali Smith
May 30,
Idaho Statesman,
30 May 2026
-
Their system captured seasonal rainfall, controlled flash floods, and distributed water across difficult terrain with remarkable efficiency.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
For a vegetarian option, omit the pancetta and substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
Dietary requirements are well catered for; every possible intolerance from celery to sesame is marked on the menu, and every milk substitute is available, which surprised me in an English country hotel.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
First class Etihad Apartments; Singapore Suites; combing first class on Airbus A380s on all the major Gulf airlines in a single trip; combining six different airline first class products in a single round trip.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Until Lopez’s blast, Texas A&M right-hander Clayton Freshcorn had slowed down a USC offense that had scored 48 runs combined while winning three consecutive games out of the losers’ bracket, including 14 on Sunday night against Texas A&M (41-16), to force the winner-take-all final.—
Jose de Jesus Ortiz,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Demonstrators have been attempting to block people and vehicles from entering and exiting, linking their arms in a human chain and using trash cans, umbrellas and other items as makeshift shields and barricades.—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Turn a folding table into a makeshift dining table.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Courtemanche has long been thought to be one of the victims of the Connecticut River Valley serial killer, according to local media reports in New Hampshire.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
The bulk of these predatory lawsuits are filed by a small number of serial litigants and a handful of law firms, including San Diego firm Potter Handy and Manning Law in Orange County.—
Adam Summers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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