alternating 1 of 2

Definition of alternatingnext

alternating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of alternate
as in mixing
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

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 alternating
Adjective
District 203 Superintendent Dan Bridges said early childhood students in full-day preschool will begin returning to their schools on an alternating-day basis beginning Thursday. Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, 3 Nov. 2020 In Montgomery, churches could have alternating rows of pews roped off and pillows placed in the others, asking only family members to sit together. Dennis Pillion | [email protected], al, 19 Apr. 2020
Verb
The lists began alternating between male and female names for Atlantic storms in 1979. Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026 The alternating bands of higher and lower density reveal changes in the coral’s growth rate during each year and can serve as a timekeeper. Julia Cole, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alternating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternating
Adjective
  • Years ago, after the purchase of the Sacramento Kings—where Raj and Alex sit on the board, and where Raj is an alternate governor and vice chair—the family saw opportunities for women’s sports cross their desk.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Others are dressing up as John Politics in convincing cosplay, or cracking jokes about Powell as an alternate reality diplomat.
    Owen Carry, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In another study, mixing in lentils with rice or instant potatoes resulted in lower blood sugar than eating the rice or potatoes alone.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 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
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
Verb
  • Disney has begun putting some ESPN content on Disney+ and offers bundles combining ESPN, Disney+ and Hulu, aiming to boost overall streaming subscriptions and engagement.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Windstar offers Cruise Tours in Greece combining the best of the land and the sea to check off those bucket list experiences.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Karrahboooo’s flow, kind of like Veeze or Lucki, manages to feel both laid back and conversational and deeply and intricately rhythmic, an almost enchanting combination made more potent by Karrahbooo’s almost dance-leaning sense of melody.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The researchers, who reported their findings in PLOS Biology, also screened 124 recordings from the vast wildlife sound archive xeno-canto and identified 50 species with regular rhythmic signals.
    Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The film pulls an Old Custer and presupposes that maybe Monroe didn’t die at the age of 36, juxtaposing a 100-year-old Marilyn with one in her 30s played by Johnson.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Simply juxtaposing their self-conceptions — a family horror, a therapy drama, a superhero actioner-cum-romantic comedy — with Ryan’s own broad, ’80s-style family comedy concept offers revelatory insight into the dynamics of their ecosystem.
    Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The forward multiple has stopped compressing as the memory stocks have been considered a cyclical commodity with the demand likely to be satisfied once the initial buildout is complete and then the stock price should rollover.
    Todd Gordon, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The cyclical nature of the restaurant industry — with lucrative months often surrounding the holiday season but fallow times during summer vacations and the start of the year — led the couple to consider hanging on, but also added stress.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Horse-girl fashion has grown in popularity beyond the stables, with more and more designers incorporating aspects of equestrian style in their collections.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 11 Sep. 2026
  • While these findings point to a potential benefit of incorporating blue-light-blocking glasses into an evening routine, researchers emphasize that individual responses vary.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Alternating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternating. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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