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
Those two Hall of Famers then alternated picks — Weatherspoon took the reigning MVP Wilson to start the process, while Cooper chose two-time MVP Breanna Stewart to match up down low. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 July 2026 Against San Diego, DiBernardo and Bethune alternated as attacking midfielders in the middle of the Current’s 4-2-3-1 formation. — Pj Green july 24, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Adjective
There will be alternate broadcast options available, including a live chat function for fans to comment on the action during games. — Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 July 2026 When the questions were seemingly all done, Allen pivoted to the team's new alternate uniforms. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
Noun
Aldrich Potgieter, who made bogey on the final hole to finish two shots behind, remains the first alternate. — ABC News, 13 July 2026 Webb originally became an alternate in 2022 at the behest of veterans Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 2 July 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
  • Dobnak mixed his pitches, including a sinker, sweeper and changeup, to work efficiently through his start.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • Anyone who mixes politics, discipline, money and power without transparency cannot lead anything.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • The company added that the vessel can also be equipped with alternative combat management systems, including the Lockheed Martin CMS330 Combat Management System.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Forbes queried every sponsor asking if it had been offered alternative benefits or reimbursement, but only one responded.
    — Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • The Braves also traded outfielder Eli White to the Red Sox for right-hander Tyler Uberstine and dealt backup catcher Joey Bart to the White Sox for right-hander Duncan Davitt.
    — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Developers have to allocate heavy front-end capital expenditures to backstop the grid, deploying commercial uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), industrial backup generators and next-generation liquid-cooling architectures.
    — Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • The festival began as a seasonal attraction but has grown into a Kansas City-area family tradition centered on education and close encounters with butterflies.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Caladiums are mostly seasonal, lasting spring through late summer or fall.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of seasonal
Noun
  • But the blustery autumn wind is no substitute for the cozy rays of a summer sun.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
  • Pitulic was employed as a long-term substitute at GCISD since January 2023 and frequently subbed for teachers at Dove Elementary.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • Some of the largest proposals seeking chunks of Orange County’s lucrative bed tax got the final crack Wednesday at convincing a task force to advance their ideas, which combined would cost billions of dollars.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The hubs will combine air taxis, autonomous vehicles, ridesharing, charging, servicing, and last-mile connections.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of combine
Adjective
  • The beams, in a 32-story project at 222 Broadway expected to yield nearly 800 apartment units, had been wrapped in steel as a makeshift fix, the agency said.
    — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • Small changes, like the arrows and the makeshift shelf, have made a huge difference in her shooting and confidence.
    — Beka Garris, Outdoor Life, 30 July 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • Eager as the women are to nab a serial killer, going after the network’s Epstein-like billionaire ringleader proves even more tempting.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
  • Could Kohberger have been a serial killer in the making, a man who hates women, or is there enough evidence to exonerate him altogether?
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 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 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of alternate for Spanish Speakers

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