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alternate 1 of 3

verb

Definition of alternatenext
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.

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alternate

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in alternative

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in backup

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Dissimilar Words
3
as in seasonal

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Dissimilar Words

alternate

3 of 3

noun

as in substitute

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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
Verb
Performances alternated between two stages—Marigold and Dandelion—without overlap, in theory giving all forty-five thousand attendees a shot at laying eyes and/or ears on every set. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026 While many cyclists like to alternate between sipping water and energy gel, doing so can be an awkward, messy and wasteful process. — New Atlas, 31 Aug. 2026
Adjective
His observation came a few years before alternate costumes became commonplace across the industry, appearing in games ranging from Mario Kart to indie productions like South of Midnight. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 10 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, Doran’s inclusion of Nell (Sherry-Lee Watson), a gifted horse trainer of Aboriginal origins who befriends Sybylla, offers an alternate vision of female passion and defiance. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
Cameoing in the film as an alternate to Captain America, Carter — an MCU fixture since 2011 — was apparently killed off by Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) with her own shield. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026 Also on the five-man team are Kameron Nelson and pommel horse specialist Patrick Hoopes, with veteran Yul Moldauer the traveling alternate. — Nancy Armour, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
  1. mix
  2. alternative
  3. backup
  4. seasonal
  5. substitute
  6. combine
  7. makeshift
  8. serial
Verb
  • The collection is stand out; the Hedreens were keen on mixing contemporary art with Old Masters, often hanging works made centuries apart alongside one another.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The only non-four-seamer Tolle mixed in was a sinker to Caglianone.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • Graphite is a key battery material, and securing alternative sources and production methods is part of efforts to strengthen US battery supply chains.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Held at Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, Shaky Knees mixes major alternative acts with indie-rock veterans and emerging artists.
    — Courtney Devores, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • When Russians discovered karaoke, thousands of venues sprang up, from cheap sushi joints to lavish establishments where an orchestra and backup singers accompanied anyone willing to step onto the stage and, for a few minutes, feel like a star.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Three 2-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs have received identification microchips and their first vaccinations at a zoo near Athens, as part of a global effort to build a backup population.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • The floating schools were a response to a longstanding local problem of seasonal floods and impassable, muddy roads that kept children from reaching conventional schools.
    — Ali Asif Shawon, NPR, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Separate data from Indeed’s Job Postings Index also shows a seasonal ramp-up that is noticeable around Labor Day and the weeks that follow.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of seasonal
Noun
  • Weah was ineffective as a substitute against Paraguay and again when starting against Turkey.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Yet success can quietly become a substitute for meeting those needs.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • Many legal instruments combine the constituting of governments with the assigning of territory and the proclaiming of laws.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Neither offense has looked great, as the teams have combined for only 250 yards.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of combine
Adjective
  • As fishermen wrestled their catches out of flimsy fiberglass boats near a makeshift shoreside market recently, several stopped to talk with CNN, complaining that the war is ruining business.
    — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Unlike the makeshift sand berms built by the city, his house is protected by a natural mound fortified with resilient pickleweed.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • Trailer has dropped for Netflix‘s Hunting Gary Glitter, the former pop superstar who was exposed as a serial child abuser.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The discoveries have sparked fear of a potential serial killer at large and led to a public warning by the police.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of serial

Browse Nearby Words

altering
alternate
alternated
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Cite this Entry

“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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