How to Use instead of in a Sentence

instead of

preposition
  • An alarm that chimes instead of buzzes.
    — Stephen Watson, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
  • 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 trait is now about the sibling instead of the child.
    — Staff Author, Parents, 13 June 2026
  • Guide both legs to one side instead of twisting one leg at a time.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Skip the sunburn, and let your hair go bright red instead of your skin.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
  • Expect sand in place of snow and palms instead of pines on this coastal drive.
    — Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
  • As a plus, the mats can be washed and reused instead of going in the trash.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • So if those pests show up, instead of one or two plants dying, all of them do.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Use a ricer instead of a masher for the smoothest results.
    — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Let ice on trees and shrubs melt on its own instead of removing it.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
  • She was even known to water down some sour cream and use that instead of water.
    — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Users prefer to speak requests instead of type them.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Keep all medicines and kits in one place instead of spreading them throughout your home.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Choose a small drink instead of a medium, and swap whole milk for skim or almond milk.
    — Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2026
  • These pies are also pan-fried instead of deep-fried, which helps keep the crust tender.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
  • What do elephants use instead of sunblock?
    — Anna Halkidis, Parents, 29 May 2026
  • The color is dark gold instead of the usual creams or pastels.
    — Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024
  • Feel like making your own chicken stock instead of using the stuff out of a box?
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Loyalty should feel earned instead of bought.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • The arm above the seal would be wielding a tomahawk instead of a sword.
    — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
  • That meant earning his role as a starter instead of being handed one.
    — Devin Bradshaw, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
  • To avoid this, wear a corset or a longline bra with a pair of matching panties instead of a one-piece.
    — Olivia Marcus, StyleCaster, 21 Jan. 2025
  • For many people, the next tech job may involve a hard hat instead of a laptop.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
  • 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
  • The city even wants to use bricks instead of asphalt to retain the area's image.
    — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 16 May 2026
  • This recipe uses walnuts instead of pecans, but keeps a healthy splash of bourbon.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Unlike the mousse, the air-dry cream is meant to be used in place of the leave-in instead of after.
    — Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Being able to walk back to your hotel at the end of a long day instead of waiting for a bus.
    — Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Maybe use ground chiles in place of chili powder, or ground coriander instead of cumin.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The immune system speeds up the growth of skin cells, which pile up instead of sloughing off.
    — Cathy Cassata, Health.com, 10 Nov. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instead of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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