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
Empty legs are also one-way flights so passengers will need to find an alternate way back home. — Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 He was flanked by Steen and head coach Jim Montgomery and surrounded by his four alternate captains — Colton Parayko, Philip Broberg, Jake Neighbours and Dylan Holloway — along with many other teammates and alumni. — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 3 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
  • Consider your dishwasher’s caddy size and layout; mix handle directions or use an upper rack for knives.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • By taking stem cells from a host’s own body and encouraging them to differentiate before mixing them with a commercially available, soluble matrix gel, researchers may have cracked the most critical problems in the transplant process.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • Goldman's base case remains for Persian Gulf exports to gradually recover as producers adapt to disruptions, including through alternative shipping routes and eventually additional pipeline capacity.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • At best, the boat strikes are forcing traffickers to search for alternative routes and modes of delivery.
    — Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • Dinnall said that closing schools will allow administrators to work on backup plans for nonessential technology tools, which include attendance reporting.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Three 2-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs received identification microchips and their first vaccinations Tuesday at a zoo near Athens, as part of a global effort to build a backup population.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 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
  • With substitute Danny Imray, another new face at The Racecourse Ground, setting Ekomie up for his first goal in English football, Wrexham look well served in what has been a key area throughout Parkinson’s five years at the helm.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Somehow, this all dovetails with the fact that Davis and Friend were themselves substitutes for Greta Lee and Andrew Scott, who were cast as the leads when the film was announced in 2024.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 2 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
  • Parton died after a brief battle with cancer, with her death triggering an outpouring of grief, from fellow Hollywood stars to everyday fans who attended makeshift memorials.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • China builds access road for rescue crews On the Chinese side, rescue crews completed a makeshift road to the disaster site at Gyirong Port on the Nepal border, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday.
    — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • Nearly a decade after a series of killings, the trial for the man prosecutors accuse of being the Indian Creek serial killer got underway Thursday morning in Jackson County Circuit Court in downtown Kansas City.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Why is Fredrick Demond Scott called the 'Indian Creek serial killer'?
    — Ahmed Jawadi, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of serial

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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 11 Sep. 2026.

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