alternating 1 of 2

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.

Synonyms & Similar 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 | Dpillion@al.com, al, 19 Apr. 2020 To rein in these non-traditional energy sources, researchers typically rely on rectifiers, or devices designed to convert the alternating current of electromagnetic waves—which oscillate in every which direction—into a direct current. Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 2 Apr. 2020 The novel presents the alternating viewpoints of Alice and Eleanor in first person, as well as several chapters following John Billington’s point of view (which is disconcertingly rendered in third person). Emily Gray Tedrowe, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2020 See all Example Sentences for alternating 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternating
Adjective
  • Detailed alternate one-sided parking maps can be found online at stpaul.gov/NewSnow.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The four-year starter and two-time state alternate is 28-5 at 144 pounds this season.
    Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • These include rhinoviruses, adenoviruses and seasonal coronaviruses.
    Tanya Lewis, Scientific American, 4 Feb. 2025
  • The artwork has been cloaked in everything from a bikini to various seasonal costumes.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Polished and rhythmic, the album had been all machine.
    Michael Owen, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
  • On Saturday, three multicolored and gold-adorned dancing lions swirled, extending good wishes to the crowd while moving in step with the rhythmic beat of drums and cymbals.
    Autumn Alvarez, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The party never stops Perhaps all this overwhelming negativity regarding the end of the Universe is what prompted Nobel laureate Roger Penrose in 2010 to propose a completely different mechanism for the long-term fate of the Universe, something dubbed conformal cyclic cosmology, or CCC.
    Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Also known as the cyclic ketogenic diet, this dietary pan involves switching between a keto diet and a higher-carb diet.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Lauren's Polo gear also ingratiated itself into the hip-hop scene with many rappers incorporating the brand into their signature looks.
    Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Strategic use involves incorporating options as part of a long-term strategy, while tactical use focuses on managing short-term events or market actions.
    Michael Martin, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • On the documentary side, Netflix also revealed films about Eddie Murphy, the Manson murders, Hurricane Katrina, Osama Bin Laden’s capture, the Air Force’s elite Thunderbirds squadron, the Long Island serial killer, endangered pangolins and the Titan submersible.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney commented on whether accused serial killer Rex Heuermann is being considered a suspect in cold cases that remain unsolved decades later.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The movement was classified by periodic pulses, or bursts of mobility that lasted for one to two hours.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
  • The hum is punctuated with the crackle of flames and the buckling of timber and the periodic pop of exploding gas lines somewhere in the distance, all of which gets louder as the fire bears down on you.
    Peter Kiefer, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near alternating

Cite this Entry

“Alternating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternating. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

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