1
: as a substitute or equivalent
was going to write but called instead
2
: as an alternative to something expressed or implied : rather
longed instead for a quiet country life
Examples of instead in a Sentence
I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead.
Recent Examples on the Web
The resort is not screen-free by any means, but given the abundance of activities, the natural beauty of the landscape, and the coziness of the space, very few people seemed to feel the need to be on their phones or tablets—and instead spent time connecting.
—
Katie Mathews, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026
They were told the videos would go to private DVD collections overseas, but instead they were widely disseminated on the GirlsDoPorn network of sites and free pornography sites.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Bret Stephens, the right-leaning Jewish New York Times columnist, argued in a recent address that the Jewish community should abandon its efforts to combat antisemitism and instead invest in strengthening Jewish life.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
That can remove some of the obligation to cast top stars and allow filmmakers to look instead for chemistry and authenticity to the source materials.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instead
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Katie Mathews, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Feb. 2026
They were told the videos would go to private DVD collections overseas, but instead they were widely disseminated on the GirlsDoPorn network of sites and free pornography sites.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Bret Stephens, the right-leaning Jewish New York Times columnist, argued in a recent address that the Jewish community should abandon its efforts to combat antisemitism and instead invest in strengthening Jewish life.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
That can remove some of the obligation to cast top stars and allow filmmakers to look instead for chemistry and authenticity to the source materials.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instead
Cite this Entry
“Instead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
instead
adverb
in·stead
in-ˈsted 
: as a substitute
was going to write but called instead
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