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.
Related Words
Relevance
1
as in alternative
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in backup
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in seasonal
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in substitute
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alternate
Kaela Ling, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
Where percale fabrics have an over-under weave, sateen fabrics alternate four over and one under, like a satin weave, giving the fabric a smoother feel.
—Mary Grace Granados
special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
The Navy said a new supplier would need at least four years to reach comparable product maturity, three additional years to qualify an alternate device, and another year to establish manufacturing readiness for low-rate initial production.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 30 Dec. 2025
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
Sophie Segreti Sophie, a strategy associate in New York City, was determined to make the most of her Survivor experience after being cast as an alternate and not being able to compete on season 48.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alternate
Verb
One way she’s found to navigate around this is to take alternating work shifts with her husband while traveling.
—Adjective
Made on a relatively light budget of $30 million (that's practically unheard of for a blockbuster these days), the sci-fi flick is set in an alternate 1980s, where an alien spaceship is spotted over Johannesburg, South Africa.
—Noun
That brush-off on top of Chris somehow edging her out of the Olympic team so that Tunde wound up as an alternate was too much not to go nuclear.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for alternate
Verb
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The effect feels elevated and intentional, allowing outfits to stand out while remaining versatile enough to mix easily with classic staples.—
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Fragrance stacking, also known as layering means mixing scents to create your own custom blend according to Almira Armstrong, founder of Lumira.—
Adjective
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They’re combined with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic down alternative filling, creating a plush and luxurious sleeping experience that’s designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers.—
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Saudi Arabia has a contract to host the event until 2029, but the Gulf nation hosting next year’s Asian Cup — which clashes with Spanish football’s scheduling of the tournament — has led to an alternative location in the Middle East being sought by the RFEF.—
Adjective
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Limited backup power could knock out internet access, leaving millions to wait for instant answers.—
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His father, Osaar, was a backup quarterback at UCLA from 2005-09.—
Adjective
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Expect high-end steaks and seafood, seasonal produce and a wine list with a global point of view.—
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Many of the visitors interviewed by The Denver Post lived near ski resorts and national parks due to seasonal influxes in tourists and labor needs.—
Noun
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Use substitutes like wash cloths and knitted pieces over the mop head.—
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Bakwa had an impressive cameo as a substitute against Everton recently, but lacked the same drive against the Championship club last night.—
Verb
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Sessegnon and Jimenez attack that vacated area in a bid to combine, but Bassey’s delivery from the back gets intercepted by Santiago Bueno.—
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They’re combined with a non-toxic, hypoallergenic down alternative filling, creating a plush and luxurious sleeping experience that’s designed for back, side, and stomach sleepers.—
Adjective
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Another photo showed the pro-skateboarder lying on the ground with a makeshift pillow as men sat by and cared for him.—
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City authorities had started destroying the makeshift homes of people living on the streets and impounding their possessions.—
Adjective
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Remember Billy Bulger, the Corrupt Midget, brother of Democrat serial killer Whitey Bulger?—
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But to stop a serial killer, Clarice must confront her own inner darkness.—
Cite this Entry
“Alternate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alternate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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