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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
Participants alternated between moderate- and vigorous-intensity exercise on a recumbent bicycle for 10 minutes. — Jason Kostrna, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026 The sins of the father are ultimately presented in a literal, stomach-churning slideshow that haphazardly alternates benign family snaps with gleeful photographic evidence of Johan’s war crimes. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Adjective
For Gen Zers weighing whether a degree is worth the debt, Howard’s path is a reminder an alternate route can still lead to the top. — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 Initiatives like Project Hiu demonstrate the importance of repurposing the skills and knowledge of those who relied on hunting wildlife into protection efforts, while offering alternate economic opportunities through tourism and conservation. — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 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
  • Architectural Digest reports that designers are mixing vintage nightstands, upholstered chairs, wood furniture and lighting into contemporary spaces.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this month, my colleague Christopher Reynolds in Travel put together a list of 13 fall travel ideas, from California deserts to the coast, with a couple of mountain destinations mixed in.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • The protesters have been demanding stronger protections for tenants, measures to combat fraud and a ban on evictions when alternative housing is unavailable.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Reeves formed the alternative-rock trio — completed by vocalist-guitarist Bret Domrose and drummer-actor Robert Mailhouse — in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, and the group has drawn on the same post-punk lineage Hook helped define.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • After that league folded, Seurer signed with the Chiefs as a backup quarterback but nearly was pressed into action as a wide receiver in 1986 due to injuries.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Consider that test failed, as the Trojans dropped one at home to a Ducks squad playing with a backup quarterback for the majority of the contest.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • Facilities now extend to a seasonal mud bath with sunbathing terrace plus a modern sauna and steam bath inside.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026
  • But somewhere along the way, pumpkin spice graduated from seasonal guilty pleasure to a full-fledged lifestyle category.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of seasonal
Noun
  • Fuelled in part by the overprescription of painkillers like OxyContin in the 1990s, the market for unregulated substitutes exploded into what became regarded as an epidemic by the turn of the millennium.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Then manufacturers learned to crush cottonseed for oil to be used in soap, cooking and as a substitute for animal fats.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • The property combines centuries of history with chic interiors, excellent service, and an unbeatable location, mere steps away from Zurich’s central hub and iconic shops.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The hub can combine readings from multiple implants and coordinate therapeutic responses from devices elsewhere in the body.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of combine
Adjective
  • The Wildcats thumped Colorado last Saturday in their final game at the makeshift facility, banked along Lake Michigan, that has served as the team’s temporary home for the last two years.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Two of the usual product tills were transformed into makeshift vanities for about a dozen beauty lovers to test an assortment of serums and creams.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • But Resurrection is a return to form, as our genial serial killer relocates to New York after his now-adult son starts his own murder spree.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In the series, ten years after her father—the infamous serial killer Gabriel Thorn—was caught, 17-year-old Ryan Shipley is back in her childhood hometown of Starling, Tennessee, trying to lay low.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 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 2 Oct. 2026.

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