alternates 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of alternate
as in mixes
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

alternates

2 of 2

noun

plural of alternate

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 alternates
Verb
Much like the work of Shirley Jackson, The Bat deftly alternates spine-tingling scares with laugh-out-loud moments of mirth. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026 The underlying practice, sometimes called contrast bath therapy or immersion therapy, alternates the body’s exposure to hot and cold water and has long been used by physical therapists, athletes and wellness enthusiasts, according to WHOOP. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 Contrast therapy alternates hot and cold exposure, driving vasodilation and vasoconstriction in what WHOOP calls a vascular pumping effect that increases blood flow and tissue oxygen delivery. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 Under the current agreement, Maceo splits his time between both parents during the week and alternates weekends with exceptions for certain holidays. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Gathering 5,700 members from more than 50 countries across Europe, the European Film Academy oversees the annual European Film Awards, which alternates taking place in its home city of Berlin and another European city, which is Athens this year. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 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 As the train emerges from the tunnel, pitch darkness alternates with sudden bursts of sunlight through openings in the bedrock. — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 The drink-swap strategy, which alternates alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, is being fueled by declining alcohol consumption in younger generations. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
Honorees who advanced to the Super Bowl were replaced by alternates (Trubisky was Jared Goff’s alternate in 2018-19) and the exhibition no longer was held in Aloha Stadium each year. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternates
Verb
  • Inside, the design mixes airy and contemporary touches (gray-blue marble, mosaic floors) with traditional details and, of course, the brand's signature orange.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The format mixes group mentoring, discussions on craft and individual sessions on each script, so that writers get ongoing feedback as their drafts evolve.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Some salt substitutes contain smaller amounts of both sodium chloride and potassium chloride because potassium chloride can taste metallic or bitter.
    — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With those in place, criteria set by a customer, insurer or assessor become inputs to the institution’s judgment rather than substitutes for it.
    — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Nordic Knots’s rug is one way to add a slight edge to your floors, as its sharp geometry on soft wool juxtaposes the severity of the shapes.
    — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Churchill juxtaposes a surreal dinner party featuring famous women from literature, history and myth with a contemporary drama of two sisters who have made starkly different choices with their lives.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Neither side has budged following Tusk’s surprise raid on the Constitutional Tribunal, through which his government ushered out the court’s president and vice president before installing ideologically sympathetic replacements.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Four candidates are competing for two open seats on the Roseville City Council Tuesday, with voters in the city’s 2nd and 4th districts choosing replacements for departing council members.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The platform combines solid-state transformers, battery energy storage, as well as smart controls to deliver electricity from the grid to computing equipment.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Icon Cotton Stretch combines comfort, support and timeless design across a range of signature Calvin Klein underwear silhouettes.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Plus the Netflix binge model means buzzy hits can really move the needle only on subs and advertising revenue for a month or two.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • No official confirmation regarding the type of subs and ballistic missile submarine deployment has been made by China so far.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • App control adds another layer of convenience The K70 also incorporates wireless connectivity, allowing cleaning options to be managed through a companion app.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The vehicle also incorporates specialized electronics and systems that support payload delivery and weapon safety.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alternates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternates. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster