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Definitions

alternate

[awl-ter-nayt, al-, awl-ter-nit, al-] / ˈɔl tərˌneɪt, ˈæl-, ˈɔl tər nɪt, ˈæl- /
ADJECTIVE
substitute
Synonyms
Antonyms






Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Rather than spinning their entire bodies together, the snakes alternate between rolling on one side and swinging a curved section of their bodies downward beside their heads.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026

David Ross is an alternate in the Torrance branch of the public defenders office and also works in Bellflower and Long Beach.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

Why would Slate go to the trouble of creating this alternate reality?

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

Exploiting a scheduling quirk—Singapore’s 8 p.m. race typically follows a slate of afternoon starts in Europe—the entire paddock just lives in an alternate, nocturnal universe.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

This could be my ticket to an alternate life, Sofia, a way to become one of the insiders.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon

While the marketing industry often alternates between dread and hype regarding AI, Dimon suggested that he views the tech as powerful but also practical.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

In the broadcast booth, he sometimes alternates between standing and sitting, or puts his feet up on a table, anything to avoid sitting for hours on end.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Interval training alternates between more vigorous periods of exercise and lower-intensity periods of active recovery.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 2, 2026

The rest of the album alternates between chaos and control, introspection and criticism, grungy beats and hazy surrealism.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

Egyptian art alternates between conservatism and innovation, but is never static.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

His mother, Mollie Roy, alternated Tylenol and Motrin as pediatricians typically recommend and looked after him as he rested at home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

We alternated between mat and barre work, using light weights and an exercise strap and ball.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

They passed air through larynges removed from deceased horses and then alternated the airflow between normal air and helium.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 25, 2026

Chileans have alternated between left and right governments at every election since 2010.

From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026

A pale light and a green light alternated in his eyes as he spoke.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

Developed in parallel by several studios, "Call of Duty" has been split into two series for more than 15 years, with new titles released in alternating years.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026

Roberts also said alternating between right- and left-handers was not a variable.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

Leading an orchestra of 22, featuring lively colorations from saxophone, harp, marimba and guitar, conductor Michael Sakir captured the music’s landscape of alternating pulse and elegy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Under ultraviolet light, some scales in the caudal region show alternating light and dark bands running across the tail.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026

Mr. Habazz kept alternating between having the kids from the bus talk and letting the other kids ask questions.

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix


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