alternating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of alternatingnext
as in alternate

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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.

Related 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 | [email protected], al, 19 Apr. 2020
Verb
At one point, Charli was lit up in quickly alternating blue and red lights that made for a dazzling effect. — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026 Cooper Powers also played more at right guard after alternating between left guard and center. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alternating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternating
  1. alternate
  2. mixing
  3. seasonal
  4. combining
  5. rhythmic
  6. juxtaposing
  7. cyclic
  8. incorporating
Adjective
  • The central committee started its term in 2022 with more than 370 full and alternate members.
    — KANIS LEUNG, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • That’s the fewest the Trojans have given up in a game since holding Michigan to 32 in their Big Ten debut, and in an alternate timeline, it might’ve been seen as a big moment for USC’s secondary.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of alternate
Verb
  • Emily Ratajkowski has been keeping busy in Los Angeles, mixing daring mirror selfies with a little romance.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Kitchenette-style counters are perfect for mixing a drink before heading out, and every room comes outfitted with a Marshall amp mini fridge (this is Nashville, after all).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of mixing
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
Verb
  • Combining two reactor designs The research will focus on combining tokamaks and stellarators, two different types of machines designed to harness nuclear fusion for clean energy.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The rooms The hotel’s 101 rooms and 15 suites follow the same philosophy of balancing past and present and celebrate Milan’s art, culture, and design, by combining timeless aesthetics with contemporary nods.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of combining
Adjective
  • Piezoelectric generators are particularly attractive for implants because the body is constantly moving, from the expansion and contraction of the lungs to the rhythmic beating of the heart.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Shifting between precision and improvisation, each rhythmic mark registers its own time signature.
    — Tara Anne Dalbow, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rhythmic
Verb
  • Noah Goldstein, Sir Dylan, and Jake Miller, who produced the song with Rosalía, were surgical in structuring this masterpiece together, juxtaposing the song’s irreverence with its intense spirituality.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
  • To be sure, the former intended to evoke the elegance and versatility of a little black dress, juxtaposing the shiny surface of its leather body with the matte effect of the matching handle.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of juxtaposing
Adjective
  • Still, Converse’s sales hemorrhage raises fair questions about whether this is more than a cyclical decline.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • There are many variations of silicones, but the two important categories used in beauty products are linear (like dimethicone) and cyclic (like cyclomethicone and cyclosiloxanes).
    — Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of cyclic
Verb
  • By incorporating machinery, robotics and AI, Deighton said repair businesses can improve efficiency and potentially replicate their operations across multiple locations.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The movie centers on the families who were introduced to listeners of the podcast, along with incorporating new voices and previously untold stories.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of incorporating

Browse Nearby Words

alternates
alternating
alternative
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Alternating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternating. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All