al·ter·nate
US and Canadian
ˈȯl-tər-nət
also ˈal-;
chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər-
1
: occurring or succeeding by turns
a day of alternate sunshine and rain
2
a
: arranged first on one side and then on the other at different levels or points along an axial line
a plant with alternate leaves
compare opposite entry 1
b
: arranged one above or alongside the other
alternate layers of brick and stone
3
: every other : every second
He works on alternate days.
4
: constituting an alternative
took the alternate route home
5
: alternative sense 2
did not approve of their son's alternate lifestyle
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt
also ˈal-
alternated; alternating
1
: to perform by turns or in succession
alternated comedies and dramas
2
: to cause to alternate
: to change from one to another repeatedly
Rain alternated with sun.
al·ter·nate
US and Canadian
ˈȯl-tər-nət
also ˈal-;
chiefly British ȯl-ˈtər-
1
2
: one that substitutes for or alternates with another
They chose twelve jurors and two alternates.
Examples of alternate in a Sentence
Adjective
Alternate shades of wood formed a pattern around the window.
We took an alternate route because of the traffic.
Due to an emergency, the plane landed at an alternate airport.
Verb
The poem alternates fear and hope.
The light and dark woods alternate to form an elegant pattern around the window.
Noun
The town has elected five councilors and two alternates.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
As an alternate juror, Patrick was released before deliberations.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
The broadcast featured knowledgeable, engaging announcers; a sparkling, savvy studio crew doing the halftime report; and an alternate broadcast hosted by two of the greatest players ever, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
The air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty airport was being evacuated, a controller said in a radio transmission after the earthquake, meaning flights were being held while controllers moved to an alternate location.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Using an alternate way of counting deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, the study found, U.S. maternal mortality rates would be far lower than have been reported.
—Robin Fields, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, crews are preparing to establish a temporary, alternate channel on the northeast side of the main channel for commercially essential vessels.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The 40-foot descent felt like traveling through a portal into an alternate universe.
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2024
Officials said commuters should use alternate harbor crossings via Interstate 95 and Interstate 895 and be aware of size and HAZMAT restrictions.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Roan will now pass the baton to The Breeders, who will alternate with Remi Wolf and Pinkpantheress as the next tour openers.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
Intermittent fasting involves alternating between set periods of eating and not eating.
—Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Health, 3 Apr. 2024
The discussion was lively, honest, and alternated between moments of great candor, insights—and humor.
—Linda Fitz-Alan, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Lennie spent five months in the hospital and then alternated between the hospital and an extended care facility for seven months.
—Gina Kolata Kim Raff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Next, curl hair in alternating directions and spray your waves with the heat protectant again, before raking your fingers through for added hold.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
There are six books in this series, all of which have bilingual settings and can alternate between English and Spanish or English and Chinese.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Another photo showed how the interesting dish was served on individual plates with the proteins sliced in an alternating sequence.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024
Seventeen jurors sat through the entire trial, not knowing who would be alternates.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 5 Feb. 2024
Six of them will deliberate, while the others will serve as alternates.
—Melissa Chan, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2024
The 49ers won’t have the capability to sit their nine Pro Bowl players or 12 alternates.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024
The Vikings also had a handful of alternates selected for Pro Bowl Games, including fullback C.J.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 3 Jan. 2024
These are the alternates: A woman who works two days a week in a dental office and is married to a sales manager.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024
Honoring 1943’s four-week Warsaw Ghetto Uprising that saw Jewish resistance against the Nazis, the date alternates based on the Hebrew calendar.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 27 Jan. 2024
Depending on which players opt out of the Pro Bowl, that's when the alternates get a spot in the game.
—Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 4 Jan. 2024
Adjective
But then, in an alternate ending to Yamamoto’s implosion in Korea, the 25-year-old right-hander dug deep, and started racking up outs.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
As an alternate juror, Patrick was released before deliberations.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
The broadcast featured knowledgeable, engaging announcers; a sparkling, savvy studio crew doing the halftime report; and an alternate broadcast hosted by two of the greatest players ever, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
The air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty airport was being evacuated, a controller said in a radio transmission after the earthquake, meaning flights were being held while controllers moved to an alternate location.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Using an alternate way of counting deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, the study found, U.S. maternal mortality rates would be far lower than have been reported.
—Robin Fields, ProPublica, 5 Apr. 2024
Meanwhile, crews are preparing to establish a temporary, alternate channel on the northeast side of the main channel for commercially essential vessels.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The 40-foot descent felt like traveling through a portal into an alternate universe.
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2024
Officials said commuters should use alternate harbor crossings via Interstate 95 and Interstate 895 and be aware of size and HAZMAT restrictions.
—Adela Suliman, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
Top model Christy Turlington opened the show, dressed in a black caftan decorated with a target print on the neck, a motif that alternates with a swan, key, marble and fish prints that cover the bomber jackets, scarf dresses and skirts, plus asymmetrical tops and palazzo trousers.
—Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Roan will now pass the baton to The Breeders, who will alternate with Remi Wolf and Pinkpantheress as the next tour openers.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024
Intermittent fasting involves alternating between set periods of eating and not eating.
—Francisco J. Rivera Rosario, Health, 3 Apr. 2024
The discussion was lively, honest, and alternated between moments of great candor, insights—and humor.
—Linda Fitz-Alan, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Lennie spent five months in the hospital and then alternated between the hospital and an extended care facility for seven months.
—Gina Kolata Kim Raff, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Next, curl hair in alternating directions and spray your waves with the heat protectant again, before raking your fingers through for added hold.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024
There are six books in this series, all of which have bilingual settings and can alternate between English and Spanish or English and Chinese.
—Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024
Another photo showed how the interesting dish was served on individual plates with the proteins sliced in an alternating sequence.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
An all-white jury of nine women and six men — three of whom will be designated as alternates before deliberations begin — was seated Wednesday.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024
Seventeen jurors sat through the entire trial, not knowing who would be alternates.
—Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 5 Feb. 2024
Six of them will deliberate, while the others will serve as alternates.
—Melissa Chan, NBC News, 10 Jan. 2024
The 49ers won’t have the capability to sit their nine Pro Bowl players or 12 alternates.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024
The Vikings also had a handful of alternates selected for Pro Bowl Games, including fullback C.J.
—Dane Mizutani, Twin Cities, 3 Jan. 2024
These are the alternates: A woman who works two days a week in a dental office and is married to a sales manager.
—Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024
Honoring 1943’s four-week Warsaw Ghetto Uprising that saw Jewish resistance against the Nazis, the date alternates based on the Hebrew calendar.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 27 Jan. 2024
Depending on which players opt out of the Pro Bowl, that's when the alternates get a spot in the game.
—Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 4 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alternate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to alternate
Dictionary Entries Near alternate
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternate. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
alternate
1 of 3 adjective
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-nət
also ˈal-
1
: occurring or following by turns
a day of alternate sunshine and rain
2
a
: occurring first on one side and then on the other at different levels along an axis
alternate leaves on a plant stem
b
: arranged one above, beside, or next to another
alternate layers of meat and cheese
3
: every other : every second
works on alternate days
4
: being one of the things between which a choice is to be made
we took an alternate route
alternately
adverb
alternate
2 of 3 verb
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-ˌnāt
also ˈal-
alternated; alternating
1
: to do, occur, or act by turns
2
: to cause to alternate
alternate
3 of 3 noun
al·ter·nate
-nət
: a person named to take the place of another when necessary
Legal Definition
alternate
1 of 2 adjective
al·ter·nate
ˈȯl-tər-nət, ˈal-
1
: occurring or succeeding by turns
2
: being an alternative
alternate juror
alternate
2 of 2 noun1
2
: one that substitutes for another
twelve jurors and three alternates
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