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
Contrast therapy alternates hot and cold exposure, driving vasodilation and vasoconstriction in what WHOOP calls a vascular pumping effect that increases blood flow and tissue oxygen delivery. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2026 Duncan said the initial gasping fades after a round or two, and recommends alternating back and forth multiple times for best results. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use Interstate 95 as an alternate route. — Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 The administration this week added several political appointees as alternate commissioners, replacing career officials, ahead of next month’s vote. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Noun
Seeing red UConn revealed new red alternate uniforms this week that will be worn in at least one of the team’s seven home games this season. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 27 Aug. 2026 Last year, Cleveland Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders was, statistically, one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks over his seven starts, yet still made the Pro Bowl as the sixth alternate after several opt-outs. — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 26 Aug. 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
  • Coffee growing in Ethiopia is dominated by smallholders, whose beans are mixed together and sold on.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Billed as Pokémon Night Out, the show mixed together the creatures from the popular video games and trading cards with the lasers, pyrotechnics and mind-blowing visuals of EDM music.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of mix
Adjective
  • Their sudden burst of ingenuity resulted in a number of alternative systems.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Norwegians who rely on alternative news sources are not necessarily less informed than their peers but are more confident in their knowledge.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of alternative
Adjective
  • To add to it, backup running back Tyler Goodson got his most burn as a Cowboy, rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Now, the reality has set in for a football team that has not been able to establish a rushing attack, while dwindling in the passing game behind their backup quarterbacks.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of backup
Adjective
  • Cornbread, barbecue chicken, grits and seasonal market vegetables now showcase Brock’s inventive, soulful cooking — and have brought diners back to the restaurant.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Lueke said cooks can swap in different proteins or add seasonal ingredients such as squash in the fall or asparagus and peas in the spring.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of seasonal
Noun
  • At times, Zukenee’s chameleonic range and ironic language can feel like a shrewd substitute for vulnerability.
    — Narsimha Gour Chintaluri, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • America can point to tankers still transiting Hormuz, but shipping that depends on costly military protection and remains under threat is a poor substitute for normal trade.
    — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • Its geometry combines elements of two distinct lattice patterns.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Golden State was able to hang around and only trailed 46-40 at the break as the teams combined to shoot 15-for-31 (48%) from behind the arc.
    — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of combine
Adjective
  • George describes residents taking in people who had lost their homes, workers restoring the water supply and the McAllister Hotel serving as a makeshift hospital.
    — Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • This all plays out with a lot of frequent jarring tonal mismatches, and some bafflingly overwrought dramatic beats, especially around Vision’s makeshift self-repair.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of makeshift
Adjective
  • Rather than being appalled, Meisner was impressed, and McQueen became a serial student, studying with Uta Hagen and Lee Strasberg and building his resume in summer stock and television.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But some traits associated with extreme psychopathy, including the ability to engage in violent behavior with little remorse or guilt, are typically found among serial killers.
    — David DeMatteo, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of serial

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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 28 Oct. 2026.

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