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
If the scores are still level after that, the match is decided by a penalty shootout — best of five, with alternating sudden-death shots as the very last tiebreaker. — Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 17 July 2026 At Paul and Mortensen’s latest custody hearing, on July 8, a judge expanded Paul’s parent time to include alternating weekends (through Monday morning) and the same midweek day each week without overnights. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Adjective
Royal Caribbean Group has worked to support impacted Labadee team members and keep them informed, and has identified alternate destinations and positions for employees, the company added. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 17 July 2026 The outfit includes an alternate style with his helmet, as well as Odysseus’ bow back bling and Odysseus’ sword pickaxe. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 July 2026
Noun
The singer released a second studio album, Past My Past, in 2022, and made his Broadway debut that same year as the alternate for the role of Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical. — James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 The Hi-Lo warning sound is a distinct tone that differs from a standard police siren and alternates between high and low frequencies. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 9 June 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
  • Yankee Stadium in the Bronx keeps expanding its vendor lineup, mixing classic New York fare with viral novelty items.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • Stock futures are mixed this morning as semiconductor stocks weigh on the market.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • Midi Skirts Midiskirts are the breezy, pants-alternative summer trend that’s taking the spot of the boho maxiskirt trend that’s dominated the past few years.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 21 July 2026
  • Consumers increasingly value flexibility, so dealerships and automakers should market leasing around affordability, convenience and the ability to upgrade to newer vehicles, rather than treating it as an alternative financing option.
    — Zoriy Birenboym, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • Northern Virginia has more than 9,000 backup generators capable of supplying data centers.
    — Anna Demeo, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Is Luke Nickel the definite backup quarterback behind starter Darian Mensah?
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • While the area was formerly covered by prehistoric lakes, today the water here mainly exists as seasonal wetlands, gurgling geysers, hot springs, and a hypersaline lake that’s saltier than the ocean.
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
  • There’s also a seasonal heated outdoor pool, kayak and paddleboard rentals for exploring Quonochontaug Salt Pond, and scheduled motorboat outings on the pond.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of seasonal
Noun
  • The organizations getting beyond experimentation are redesigning their workflows around collaboration between AI and humans, rather than viewing one as a substitute for the other.
    — Tony Bates, Fortune, 16 July 2026
  • In response, Paramount argued that the Paramount and WBD cable lineups are complementary — and not market substitutes — and that cable providers will still want access to all of the channels.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 July 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • The heat, the humidity, and the mile-high altitude of Mexico City would combine to create a tournament of bad football.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Ease on the power (there are five levels of assist), and the ride improves as the pedals combine with the rear hub, which is nearly silent at lower settings and emits only a slight whir at full power.
    — William Roberson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of combine
Adjective
  • Eileen Tyrrell, a 27-year-old bookseller, pulled the cushions off her couch to arrange makeshift seating in her Brooklyn apartment.
    — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • In the clip, Honey is seen sitting on Jenner’s lap on a boat together and jumping into a makeshift pool on the beach as Jenner watches her.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • Michael Chavira is a serial entrepreneur, systems engineer, and managing partner at Axiologic Solutions.
    — Michael Chavira, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Jeremy Theobald stars as a London writer who follows around strangers for inspiration, a personality quirk that gets him in trouble when he becomes tied to a serial burglar (Alex Haw) and a femme fatale (Lucy Russell).
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 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 23 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of alternate for Spanish Speakers

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