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
So what could have been handled as an unfortunate encounter was instead purposely upgraded for propaganda purposes.
—
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
The White House has proposed cutting the USAID OIG’s budget from $85 million to $0, instead folding its responsibilities into a similar agency at the State department with just $2.73 million in additional funding.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
This means that voters and Congress members alike are driven not so much by loyalty to their own party but instead a sort of seething hatred for the other political party.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Her defense denies that a collision ever happened, suggesting he was attacked by someone at the party and a dog instead.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for instead
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Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
The White House has proposed cutting the USAID OIG’s budget from $85 million to $0, instead folding its responsibilities into a similar agency at the State department with just $2.73 million in additional funding.
—Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
This means that voters and Congress members alike are driven not so much by loyalty to their own party but instead a sort of seething hatred for the other political party.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 13 June 2025
Her defense denies that a collision ever happened, suggesting he was attacked by someone at the party and a dog instead.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for instead
Cite this Entry
“Instead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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instead
adverb
in·stead
in-ˈsted 
: as a substitute
was going to write but called instead
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