alternates 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of alternate
as in mixes
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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alternates

2 of 2

noun

plural of alternate
as in substitutes

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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 alternates
Verb
The underlying practice, sometimes called contrast bath therapy or immersion therapy, alternates the body’s exposure to hot and cold water and has long been used by physical therapists, athletes and wellness enthusiasts, according to WHOOP. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 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 Under the current agreement, Maceo splits his time between both parents during the week and alternates weekends with exceptions for certain holidays. — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 Gathering 5,700 members from more than 50 countries across Europe, the European Film Academy oversees the annual European Film Awards, which alternates taking place in its home city of Berlin and another European city, which is Athens this year. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026 The sins of the father are ultimately presented in a literal, stomach-churning slideshow that haphazardly alternates benign family snaps with gleeful photographic evidence of Johan’s war crimes. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026 As the train emerges from the tunnel, pitch darkness alternates with sudden bursts of sunlight through openings in the bedrock. — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 The drink-swap strategy, which alternates alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, is being fueled by declining alcohol consumption in younger generations. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026 To achieve this, the locus coeruleus continuously alternates between tonic activity—governing baseline arousal and alertness—and brief phasic bursts that focus attention on critical events. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
Honorees who advanced to the Super Bowl were replaced by alternates (Trubisky was Jared Goff’s alternate in 2018-19) and the exhibition no longer was held in Aloha Stadium each year. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternates
  1. mixes
  2. substitutes
  3. juxtaposes
  4. replacements
  5. combines
  6. subs
  7. incorporates
Verb
  • The smartest cart usually mixes both, and the people eating out of it never need to know the difference.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
  • All in all, three different hues of light green are used throughout the colorway, which also mixes in New Balance-appropriate gray while using contrasting red elements on the shoe’s signature Abzorb SBS cushioning pods.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of mixes
Noun
  • Moreover, both sides are now able to target the substitutes and reserves that in the past could be used to cushion losses.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
  • To be sure, odds and gambling platforms do not use methodologies used by traditional political polling, and therefore are not substitutes for political polls.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of substitutes
Verb
  • Nordic Knots’s rug is one way to add a slight edge to your floors, as its sharp geometry on soft wool juxtaposes the severity of the shapes.
    — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Churchill juxtaposes a surreal dinner party featuring famous women from literature, history and myth with a contemporary drama of two sisters who have made starkly different choices with their lives.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of juxtaposes
Noun
  • The bulk of the costs was reportedly for munitions replacements at $29 million.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The fund would help the district move away from relying on annual operating resources and one-time funding opportunities to fund the work or making capital decisions when major repairs or replacements become necessary.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of replacements
Verb
  • The authentication process combines human expertise and AI integration to flag any suspicious activity and ensure that listings follow commercial industry standards.
    — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Made from cast iron, opal glass and decorative gold leaf, the clock combines Victorian and late-1930s elements.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of combines
Noun
  • Plus the Netflix binge model means buzzy hits can really move the needle only on subs and advertising revenue for a month or two.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • No official confirmation regarding the type of subs and ballistic missile submarine deployment has been made by China so far.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of subs
Verb
  • The turbine also incorporates hollow superalloy blades designed to withstand high operating temperatures.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The vast, faintly industrial open warehouse incorporates concrete and wood surfaces, and glass walls frame views of the al fresco crowd in the courtyard.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of incorporates

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Cite this Entry

“Alternates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternates. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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