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
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Recent Examples of alternate
Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Steam Controller has a rumble motor that can alternate between strong and subtle vibrations with equal utility, and magnetic TMR thumbsticks that should be less susceptible to the kind of drift inherent to sticks with physical contacts.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 4 May 2026
Islamabad, Pakistan — As the stalemate between Washington and Tehran drags on and the world waits in hope of a deal, the very real possibility of an alternate outcome – the resumption of war – looms overhead.
—Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2026
Klonowski is an alternate, Guiser has battled injuries and Archer did not qualify.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Verb
Different strategies in Stage 1 NASCAR alternating the stage lengths in an attempt to curb fuel-saving in the final two stages meant an elongated Stage 1, where teams would be forced to conserve fuel.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The Steam Controller has a rumble motor that can alternate between strong and subtle vibrations with equal utility, and magnetic TMR thumbsticks that should be less susceptible to the kind of drift inherent to sticks with physical contacts.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
All affected customers will be contacted with alternate travel options and some will be given the option for a full refund.
—Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 4 May 2026
Islamabad, Pakistan — As the stalemate between Washington and Tehran drags on and the world waits in hope of a deal, the very real possibility of an alternate outcome – the resumption of war – looms overhead.
—Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Noun
Blackwood ended up being the first alternate if any of the three picked had sustained an injury just before the tournament.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2026
Klonowski is an alternate, Guiser has battled injuries and Archer did not qualify.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
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Reduce mixer speed to low and with motor running, add dry ingredients and banana mixture in 2 batches each, alternating between batches and mixing 30 seconds after each addition before adding the next.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Stock futures are mixed in pre-market trading.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Her own journey to restore her health through Western medicine and Eastern wisdom and love of alternative therapies led her to abandon her successful banking career and retrain in the Traditional Chinese Medicine which had helped her.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
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The sector boomed in the years after the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, with private credit funds and other alternative investment vehicles stepping in to fill the lending gap created by the withdrawal of investment banks from riskier parts of the debt market.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Dillon Gabriel moved to a backup role as Deshaun Watson remained on the physically unable to perform list, even after the team opened his 21-day practice window in December.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2026
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These NOTAMs usually cover a few minutes to a few hours for a primary launch date, and perhaps a backup date in the event of a delay.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
By December, kitsch in its more seasonal flavors had overrun the front yards of Paradise Palms.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Smyth’s nightly tasting menu of superior New Wisconsin cuisine highlights local and seasonal ingredients.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
The substitute looks up and sends a shot crashing against the post from a tight angle.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
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In 2025, the CMS Fraud Defense Operations Center stopped nearly $185 million in improper payments to suspect providers billing for skin substitutes.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several of the films are among the most expensive ever made, and all of them combined have grossed more than seven billion dollars.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
-
All these factors combined lead to more walks.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gary Wilcox, a member of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, concluded his opening remarks at the May Day protest with a blessing of the Miccosukee Tribe’s land, which is adjacent to the makeshift immigration detention camp, saying real suffering is happening to those being caged under the tents.—
Churchill Ndonwie
May 2,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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In a makeshift demonstration kitchen in Concord, California, cooking oil splatters in and around a frying pan, which catches fire on an unattended gas stove.—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Adjective
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Additional rooms focus on killers such as John Wayne Gacy, known as the clown serial killer who was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys, and the Green River Killer, named Gary Ridgway, who was convicted of murdering 49 women between 1982 and 1998, among others.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
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Over the last few seasons, the team at the Behavioral Analysis Unit has been grappling with the deadly legacy of serial killer Elias Voit, as well as being forced to seek his help to stop another murder.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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