alternate 1 of 3

verb

Definition of alternatenext
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.

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alternate

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in alternative

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in backup

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Dissimilar Words
3
as in seasonal

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Dissimilar Words

alternate

3 of 3

noun

as in substitute

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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
Days are centered around the pool, where people alternate between flipping through books and long lunches lingering at Coco’s outdoor tables. — Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026 Gradually stir in half-and-half and cheeses, alternating between 1/4 cup cream and a handful of the cheeses at a time. — Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Aug. 2026
Adjective
That’s the moment to slow down, seek perspective and alternate viewpoints, not speed up. — Big Think, 21 Aug. 2026 That means drivers who normally use the Mall to cross downtown will need to find alternate routes, and some parking garages will also have restricted access during the race weekend. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
This is the 25-year-old’s third season with the team, serving as an alternate in 2024. — Ava Dicecca, Sun Sentinel, 24 July 2026 The movie partially takes place much later in the X-Men timeline, in a dystopian alternate 2023. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
  1. mix
  2. alternative
  3. backup
  4. seasonal
  5. substitute
  6. combine
  7. makeshift
  8. serial
Verb
  • The footage mixes high-speed chases and explosive action with comedic beats, framing a story built around chaos, mismatched heroism and rising stakes as the mission unfolds.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The result is a lightweight, hydrating formula that can be mixed on the move, minus the mess.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • Trade routes such as the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia depend on export via tankers in the Red Sea, some analysts said, meaning any potential escalation of fighting in that area could shut off its viability as an alternative trade route.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • With Hojbjerg seemingly having turned Newcastle down and Palhinha appearing likely to move elsewhere, Ross Wilson, the club’s sporting director, is exploring alternative midfield options.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • The approach of the former was to pause and bask; the latter, to launch with his backup dancers into a complicated set of steps.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Miller gives the Cubs a true backup shortstop and also has some experience playing first base.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • At Lenea, a long table is laden with fresh seasonal fruits (jammy figs!
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • On the Mediterranean coast—where there has been a seasonal Nobu restaurant since summer 2025—Nobu Hotel and Residences North Coast will anchor SODIC’s flagship OGAMI development.
    — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of seasonal
Noun
  • In the 85th minute, the young winger made his professional debut as a late substitute.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • San Jose’s second-half substitute Preston Judd had a pair of chances after coming on at the hour mark, but the first shot was over the crossbar and the second was saved at point-blank range by Marcinkowski.
    — Mercury News, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • Brooks says advances in engineering, hardware, and access to massive datasets – combined with the incredible amount of money in tech, meant AI innovation could take off.
    — Max Darrow, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The lunch and dinner menu is a window onto the Mediterranean, harmoniously combining the fruits of the land and the sea.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of combine
Adjective
  • Ukrainian authorities recovered Berezovska’s body three days later, having been led to her makeshift grave by Reut after he was tracked down by investigators.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, above ground, Scott Fox had joined the rescue effort, despite having retired nine months earlier from Rescue 5, as the FDNY formed makeshift companies out of surviving firefighters.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • While the haunting serial murders are the mainstay within the show, Kay also smartly addresses resentments in the police department between patrol cops and detectives and even officers who turn on each other.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The stories of two high schoolers, Jules and Quinn, entwine on May 1, the day a serial killer attacks one of them.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of serial

Browse Nearby Words

altering
alternate
alternated
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Cite this Entry

“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of alternate for Spanish Speakers

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