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
  • My fiancé has a 2-year-old son and due to alternate work schedules, the child spends the days with my fiance and then nights with his mother.
    Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
  • After a late withdrawal from 2024 Olympic alternate Tiana Sumanasekera due to illness, many expected 2024 Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera to run away with the meet.
    Caroline Price, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Data reported so far by the CDC from testing labs suggests that this winter's record surge of influenza is being driven by seasonal strains of the virus, not human-to-human spread of a bird flu strain.
    Alexander Tin, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
  • More research is needed to support these findings, but honey alone is not likely to stop your seasonal allergies.3 Plus, the honey would need to be created within several miles of your home, Stefanski said.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • From the moment passengers step onto the ship, the rhythmic pulse of the Caribbean surrounds them.
    Melissa Noel, Essence, 13 Feb. 2025
  • The rhythmic movement mimics the womb and can be very soothing.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 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
  • 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
  • The release of The Monkey comes just seven months after Longlegs—a serial killer thriller starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage—instantly became a hit in theaters in July of 2024.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Whenever Iran suffers one of its periodic spasms of unrest, as happened at the end of 2022 following the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody, protesters criticize Iran’s overseas entanglements.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
  • While these are part of a periodic programme of reviews — Newcastle tend to have departmental evaluations after most transfer windows — there is greater importance attached to this round given the key infrastructure questions.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alternating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternating. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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