alternate 1 of 3

Definition of alternatenext
as in to mix
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.

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alternate

2 of 3

adjective

alternate

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noun

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 alternate
Verb
In Key West, AccuWeather forecasts a high of 89, with a couple of morning showers followed by alternating clouds and sun in the afternoon. Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 2 July 2026 Douse your hair in mousse, and use the comb and your fingers to create alternating S-wave patterns throughout. Audrey Noble, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Adjective
Henry Selick adapted Coraline by Neil Gaiman and enlisted voice performances from greats like Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, plus music by They Might Be Giants, to tell this crafty, Grimm-esque fairy tale about alternate worlds. Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 Abarca said that legislators have begun to consider alternate solutions to the three-year tax credits. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Noun
On Monday, 13 people, including an alternate, were selected after several hours of jury selection. Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 22 May 2026 An Olympic alternate and World team champion with Team USA, Roberson was considered a top recruit by more than a dozen collegiate programs. Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for alternate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
  • Wall Street was mixed in light trading early Thursday as chip stocks fell further and oil prices dipped near their levels before the Iran war began.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • As the amiable leader of Shinyribs, Russell and his colleagues mix rock, country, Texas blues, New Orleans funk, Memphis soul and more into an enjoyable, good-timey, bar-band blend.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • The executives who absorbed the Freakonomics ethos learned to separate correlation from causation and to entertain alternative explanations before settling on the most convenient one.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Demand for alternative currencies, including the Singapore dollar, South Korean won and South African rand, is also growing.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and backup Daniil Tarasov will both be free agents in a matter of days, leaving Florida with a crucial hole — or net – to fill.
    Ava DiCecca, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026
  • The chest itself, meanwhile, is believed to have been produced as a backup version, with the onscreen chest featuring additional exterior detailing, according to Heritage.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Their menu is seasonal and slightly whimsical while retaining a clear vision, a good representation of the many personalities that make up the Kimball House team.
    Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • But the mudroom also needs closed storage such as cabinets, drawers, or baskets to help with seasonal gear, sports equipment, and everyday clutter.
    Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Haaland, a fan favorite in the tournament, will start the match on the substitutes' bench, ESPN reported Friday.
    Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Mathewson noted that merely keeping abreast of the latest developments is no substitute for working with them directly.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Diogo Costo had six saves for Colombia, which marked more saves than the team had in its first two matches combined.
    Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Grab a tortilla chip and scoop up a bite of this multi-layered dip that combines the flavors of the Southwest.
    Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • On the solstice, the first goal was to clear trash that had found its way onto the orchard, then form makeshift berms out of rocks dispersed around the space.
    Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The morgue that serves La Guaira is makeshift—a white tent on a dock lined with body bags and coffins.
    Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Somdutta Singh, Founder and CEO of Assiduus Global, is a serial entrepreneur, investor and author.
    Somdutta Singh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Unfortunately, photographs and footage from the 1976 ceremony are not clear enough to read the serial or part numbers off the arm assembly, and no one at the museum seems to remember or know which model the arm came from (if any).
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026

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“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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