How to Use instead of in a Sentence

instead of

preposition

• These days, most of us press snooze on a phone screen instead of a clock.
  — Gwen Rockwood The Rockwood Files, arkansasonline.com, 24 Oct. 2024
• The moon doesn’t block the sun, and the shadow of the moon cast by the sun lands in space instead of on Earth’s surface.
  — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 8 Feb. 2024
• Expect sand in place of snow and palms instead of pines on this coastal drive.
  — Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
• That means winning the group and getting a second-round date with the Italians instead of the Swedes.
  — John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
• The line at the box office was so long that by noon, the arena urged fans to stay at home instead of joining the queue.
  — Mary Colurso | [e-mail], al, 2 Mar. 2023
• The accused gave the money to trade union leaders instead of the workers.
  — Associated Press, Quartz, 3 Mar. 2024
• Ohtani’s balance in the box gets so out of whack at times that his front foot lands toward the first-base dugout instead of the mound.
  — Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2024
• Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
  — Woody Clermont, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
• The bill would give cities and counties control over self-driving cars, instead of the state.
  — William Gavin, Quartz, 3 May 2024
• The color is dark gold instead of the usual creams or pastels.
  — Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024
• The immune system speeds up the growth of skin cells, which pile up instead of sloughing off.
  — Cathy Cassata, Health, 22 June 2024
• Be the one to make a difference instead of sitting on the sideline.
  — Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
• This time, though, the Panthers finished off their win in overtime instead of waiting for the shootout.
  — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2024
• If your oven or stovetop is too hot, the nuts will quickly burn instead of slowly toast.
  — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2023
• Protein style: Your burger is wrapped in hand-leafed lettuce instead of a bun.
  — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2024
• Bannister deferring to Ada as the mistress of the house instead of Agnes.
  — Brent Lang, Variety, 18 Dec. 2023
• Still, Avila is desperate for a bigger house, one where the kids can be free instead of trying to stay out of the way.
  — Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023
• The brand does note that sometimes the cloth can arrive with a gray background instead of white due to supply shortages.
  — Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
• Boho braids, on the other hand, put more emphasis on the braids instead of trying to hide them.
  — Annie Blay, Allure, 6 Feb. 2023
• So, why not try inviting someone out for a relaxed chat instead of braving the next big event?
  — Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2024
• And what is democracy, if not the use of our words instead of violence to solve our problems?
  — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 7 Feb. 2023
• The crowd sings along about how working-class Americans are getting screwed over as if the song has been out for four decades instead of four weeks.
  — Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
• Brown meat in batches to prevent the cooker from cooling down and steaming the meat instead of browning it.
  — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2023
• What is the benefit of using a waver instead of a curling wand?
  — elle.com, 7 Apr. 2023
• The concert was a welcome reminder of the things that keep us together instead of tearing us apart.
  — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024
• Which means instead of trading McBride to satisfy one trade, the Knicks can now use him as a trade chip in another.
  — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 July 2024
• The government is the entity that steps in and enforces a level playing field instead of a race to the bottom.
  — Quartz Staff, Quartz, 30 June 2020
• Near the dining area is a tatami mat room in which the couple, instead of hosting tea ceremonies, like to share dessert.
  — Kurt Soller Josh Robenstone, New York Times, 17 May 2024
• Garland is wearing black shoes instead of the Ruby Slippers.
  — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
• Finding the shelf life, called stability testing, often takes a long time for test manufacturers, with the FDA opting to give them a shelf life of four to six months instead of waiting.
  — Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024

Last Updated: 13 Dec 2024