alternate 1 of 3

as in to mix
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

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alternate

2 of 3

adjective

alternate

3 of 3

noun

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 alternate
Verb
After he was eliminated from the tournament in seventh place by Valadez, Dominguez could be seen yelling in the front row, alternating between English and Spanish directed at the players still in the competition. Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025 While alternating different actors in a play is fairly common, doing entirely different productions of the same script simultaneously is not. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
While Ozzy never got his shot at the high seas, his legacy as the Prince of Darkness remains untouchable—onstage and, perhaps, in an alternate timeline, on the big screen. Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2025 This makes the Wells Fargo Attune a good alternate card to use at Amazon for anyone who doesn’t need or want to pay for a Prime membership. Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
Their son, Maxim, was selected last week to compete at the Four Continents Championships in February, and as an alternate for the world championships in Boston in March. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 Showrunner Steve Thompson’s compulsively watchable series alternates between the ludicrous and the smart. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
  • Creators also often mix the DIY Substack vibe with the name-brand professionalism of big-name-media by straddling both worlds.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Minutes later, the crowd also jeered Max Verstappen (though a few more cheers for the reigning champ were mixed in).
    Patrick Iversen, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The $13 billion deal means there is already another alternative contractor that could potentially handle the Air Force One conversion, one former Pentagon official involved in the project said.
    Eric Lipton, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
  • There are alternative forms—including communal love, which is deeply rooted in collective care and well-being.
    Mickell Carter / Made by History, TIME, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Afternoon temperatures are close to seasonal norms despite the arrival of a cold front.
    Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The big picture: Non-traditional and seasonal workers constitute a large portion of the workforce in fields like health care, field operations, hospitality, logistics and transportation.
    Ryan Lawler, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • His superior record as a substitute indicates that, but his finish against Spurs and his assist against Leicester added further weight to the belief.
    Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Bentaleb, who was told his career might be over after collapsing in June, came on as a substitute in the 76th minute of the Ligue 1 game and scored within four minutes of being on the pitch.
    Ben Church, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Like the building, the Grande Cuvée combines tradition and modernity to stunning effect: The resulting dram—renowned for its complex layers of flavor and long-lasting finish—can command $1,000 a bottle on the secondary market.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 22 Feb. 2025
  • The Dacia Spring Electric 65 combines a 65hp motor and 26.8kWh battery, giving it 140 miles of WLTP range.
    James Morris, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Its purpose is to protect the defendant by ensuring that the government is not tactically dismissing the case — either to bring it again at a later, more advantageous time, or to harass and exhaust the accused with serial dismissals and reindictments.
    The Editors, National Review, 21 Feb. 2025
  • And hey, does anyone remember the big serial killer/Liam Glasser storyline from three weeks ago..?
    Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The bulk of those losses occurred after Feb. 5, when Robin Washington — a longtime Salesforce board member and Gilead’s former CFO — was announced as the replacement for veteran finance chief Amy Weaver, who disclosed plans to depart last year but stayed on until the role was filled.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Whatever is left of the pavlova gets ground into a fine powder and used as a creative replacement for powdered sugar.
    Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Creaming the butter helps incorporate air into the batter, for a fluffier product.
    Amanda Holstein, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2025
  • How to Apply an Eyeshadow Stick Meet the Experts Even better, both beauty minimalists and maximalists can find suitable shades to incorporate in their routines.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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