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.
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Recent Examples of alternating
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
Verb
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
-
The alternate strategy was similar to Flamengo’s ploy that hurt Bayern.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
-
Authorized by the Nick Drake Estate and released as a four-LP vinyl edition, the set includes over 30 previously unheard demos, alternate takes and studio outtakes, compiled across three discs.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
There are multiple bars and private dining rooms for corporate or special occasion gatherings and seasonal outdoor seating.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
-
The upper tier is devoted to mythological scenes featuring the Roman god associated with each month; the middle band, the signs of the zodiac; and the lowest register, the everyday lives of humans, depicted through seasonal activities.—
Melissa Harris,
Artforum,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Gains from the sectors and its rhythmic strength help the single push 45-44 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
9 July 2025
-
Shakedown leaves the attic and lets the light run over their guitars, with streaks of brightness and a rhythmic tightness that ditches the glorious sloppiness of bar italia’s earlier music.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Brown devoted Wednesdays to mobility and conditioning after years of just incorporating it into his daily workouts.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The musical’s score stood out for its non-white cast and incorporating hip-hop, R&B and soul elements to the soundscape.—
Amy Contreras,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The telemetry log employs a cyclic buffer design, automatically overwriting older entries when the log reaches full capacity.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 June 2025
-
Big Bounce: The Universe collapses and then expands again, potentially in a cyclic process.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
The waters of a Texas lake remain shrouded in mystery as dozens of young men’s bodies continue to be pulled from the depths, putting a community on edge as rumors of a serial killer continue to swirl.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
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This time, we're introduced to Lottie, a grandmother who moonlights as a serial killer—and is forced to come out of retirement due to a series of unfortunate events.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Traditional extract, transform and load (ETL) systems—built for periodic batch jobs—fall short in these contexts.—
Shinoy Vengaramkode Bhaskaran,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
Beyond that, periodic chances of showers and storms will continue throughout the rest of the week.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Alternating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternating. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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