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
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
25 June 2026
The Panthers have more than enough leadership to go around in their dressing room beyond captain Aleksander Barkov and alternates Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Then came 13 birdies over the next 30 holes, a spot in the qualifier playoff and, ultimately, first-alternate status.
—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
An Olympic alternate and World team champion with Team USA, Roberson was considered a top recruit by more than a dozen collegiate programs.
—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Verb
Their cake included alternating vanilla and chocolate layers with fillings of cannoli and chocolate pot de créme.
—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
25 June 2026
The Panthers have more than enough leadership to go around in their dressing room beyond captain Aleksander Barkov and alternates Matthew Tkachuk and Aaron Ekblad.
—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
Adjective
Walnut trees have an alternate branching pattern and produce large, pinnately compound leaves.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Then came 13 birdies over the next 30 holes, a spot in the qualifier playoff and, ultimately, first-alternate status.
—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
20 June 2026
Noun
On Monday, 13 people, including an alternate, were selected after several hours of jury selection.
—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
22 May 2026
An Olympic alternate and World team champion with Team USA, Roberson was considered a top recruit by more than a dozen collegiate programs.
—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
-
Swept away The high altitude in Denver can cause certain pitch types to go awry, but Gray had the benefit of being able to mix and match from his expansive repertoire.
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The restaurant makes refined regional favorites like ceviche colimense and his tostada de pozole seco, and mixes cocktails with tuba.
Adjective
-
The executives who absorbed the Freakonomics ethos learned to separate correlation from causation and to entertain alternative explanations before settling on the most convenient one.
-
Demand for alternative currencies, including the Singapore dollar, South Korean won and South African rand, is also growing.
Adjective
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Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and backup Daniil Tarasov will both be free agents in a matter of days, leaving Florida with a crucial hole — or net – to fill.
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The chest itself, meanwhile, is believed to have been produced as a backup version, with the onscreen chest featuring additional exterior detailing, according to Heritage.
Adjective
-
Mixed berry jam, toasted meringue, and fresh seasonal berries complete the dessert.
-
For something a little looser, Le Dalí serves local, seasonal French fare under a surrealist, full-on fever dream of a ceiling by Philippe Starck’s daughter, Ara.
Noun
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Koulibaly misjudged a clearance and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was unable to keep out substitute Marcus Pedersen’s rasping shot to give Norway the lead close to halftime.
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Goldman Sachs recently highlighted this complexity by describing AI as both a complement and a substitute for labor depending upon the nature of the work involved.
Verb
-
Diogo Costo had six saves for Colombia, which marked more saves than the team had in its first two matches combined.
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Grab a tortilla chip and scoop up a bite of this multi-layered dip that combines the flavors of the Southwest.
Adjective
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The parking lot of a pharmacy turned into a makeshift shelter with tarps, hammocks and tents.
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People turned the parking lot of a pharmacy into makeshift shelter by setting up tarps, hammocks and tents.
Adjective
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Roberts acquired World English, audio with the author narrating, and first serial rights from Joe Veltre of The Gersh Agency.
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What makes serial entrepreneurs excel in this situation is translating their secret sauce into a language that others can understand, use and amplify.
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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