alternation

noun

al·​ter·​na·​tion ˌȯl-tər-ˈnā-shən 

 also  ˌal-

1

a

: the act or process of alternating or causing to alternate

b

: alternating occurrence : succession

2

: inclusive disjunction

3

: the occurrence of different allomorphs or allophones

Examples of alternation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The upper parts flesh out that alternation between hope and despair. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024

The alternation between analytic calm and hysteria can be exhausting. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024

India may boast competitive elections—with more than 600 political parties, high voter turnouts, and the regular alternation of power—but Mody dismisses such mechanics of democracy as deficient indicators of democratic health. —Milan Vaishnav, Foreign Affairs, 14 Apr. 2023

The variety of locations, the alternation of tone and predicaments as the series skips between threads, keeps it from becoming too emotionally, too existentially wearing. —Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English alternacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin alternātiōn-, alternātiō, from alternāre "to ebb and flow, act in alternation, arrange in alternating order" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at alternate entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing alternation

• alternation of generations

Kids Definition

alternation

noun

al·​ter·​na·​tion ˌȯl-tər-ˈnā-shən 

 also  ˌal-

1

: the act or process of alternating

2

: alternate position or occurrence : succession

3

: regular reversal in direction of flow

an alternation of an electric current