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
Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
That was the only way to see countries' delegations backflipping and mean-mugging from places like Cortina and Livigno, sort of alternating with the parade in Milan.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
Caribbean itineraries are roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and alternate between Western Caribbean destinations including Honduras, Belize, and Mexico and Eastern Caribbean locales that include the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Vladimir was an Olympic alternate in 1992, the year his brother Viktor won the gold medal in France.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Verb
The dark and twisty series follows a friend group bonded by secrets, animosity, manipulation and fear over the course of eight years — alternating between the characters’ college years and their adult lives.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
That was the only way to see countries' delegations backflipping and mean-mugging from places like Cortina and Livigno, sort of alternating with the parade in Milan.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
This year, Super Bowl performances will feature various Grammy award-winning artists, the first-ever headline performance in Spanish and for the first time ever, a secondary, alternate halftime show.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
Caribbean itineraries are roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale and alternate between Western Caribbean destinations including Honduras, Belize, and Mexico and Eastern Caribbean locales that include the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.
—Fran Golden, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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, 26 Jan. 2026
Vladimir was an Olympic alternate in 1992, the year his brother Viktor won the gold medal in France.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
-
The residue contained human feces mixed with thyme and olive oil.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Fans used to agree, complaining when the show would keep mixing former and first-time players, or bemoaning the same faces playing over and over again.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s a growing demand for alternative trading partners, Ember’s report noted.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The funding round draws support from major alternative asset managers, signaling a shift in how the private sector views advanced nuclear deployment.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And the magic elixir is able to turn garbage into Jan Ravnik, Swift's pinup backup dancer.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Oettinger will compete with Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman for the backup position.—
Lia Assimakopoulos
Dallas Stars,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The next day, both adults, seasonal farmworkers, became ill with vomiting and stayed home from work.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Some years ago, The Andrea, a seasonal seafood restaurant on the west end of Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, posted a black-and-white photo on Facebook showing a line of cars buried in the sand.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Among the recovered materials, dysprosium, ytterbium, and erbium are considered high-value due to strong demand and limited substitutes, while yttrium and gadolinium are widely used in electronics, lighting, and healthcare.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
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The sweet side using natural flavors are the Rafaello crepe with coconut, Nutella and strawberries, while the Valentine’s crepe substitutes crème patissiere for the coconut.—
George Castle,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
To extract these materials, the team designed a three-stage process that combines physical, chemical, and biological techniques.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Experts recommend snacks that combine protein, fiber and healthy fats, helping glucose stay within a narrow, steady range for hours.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And a couple took their time weaving through the makeshift garden.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Despite the internet shutdown, footage of many horrifying scenes began to emerge, including images of a makeshift morgue set up outside the Legal Medicine Organization (a state forensic institute) in Kahrizak, near Tehran, after the facility’s morgue overflowed with bodies.—
Hamid Kashani,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After a serial killer attacks a Florida State University sorority house leaving multiple sisters dead, the stakes have never been higher.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Don't miss these Police used a drone to catch a serial law-breaker in Stoughton.—
JR Radcliffe,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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