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
Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
The alternate turquoise colors returned in 2013 and 2022.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
The result was a record drawing heavily on funk and rock sounds and country lyrics alternating between processing breakup and solitude.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2025
Joseph Person, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Gifford’s reaction Linebacker Luke Gifford was elated at his selection to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games along with McCaffery, Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and long-snapper Jon Weeks, with return specialist Skyy Moore as an alternate.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
Drivers are still urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 27 Dec. 2025
The alternate turquoise colors returned in 2013 and 2022.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025
Verb
Draw the knife across the steel, alternating sides about 5-10 times.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
The result was a record drawing heavily on funk and rock sounds and country lyrics alternating between processing breakup and solitude.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2025
Noun
However, because only the flag football game will count toward the score of the Pro Bowl Games, with skills competitions no longer an official part of the event, the NFL isn’t naming alternates for linemen or specialists, according to a league source.
—Joseph Person, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025
Gifford’s reaction Linebacker Luke Gifford was elated at his selection to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games along with McCaffery, Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and long-snapper Jon Weeks, with return specialist Skyy Moore as an alternate.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternate. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
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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