Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense alternates, present participle alternating, past tense, past participle alternatedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (ɔːltəʳneɪt). The adjective and noun are pronounced (ɔːltɜːʳnət).
1. verb
When you alternate two things, you keep using one then the other. When one thing alternateswith another, the first regularly occurs after the other.
Her aggressive moods alternated with gentle or more co-operative states. [VERB + with]
The three acts will alternate as headliners throughout the tour. [VERB]
Now you just alternate layers of that mixture and eggplant. [VERB noun]
The band alternated romantic love songs with bouncy dance numbers. [VERB noun + with]
...an imaginative novel, with alternating chapters presenting each partner's pointof view. [VERB-ing]
[Also + between]
Synonyms: intersperse, interchange, exchange, swap More Synonyms of alternate
The alternation of sun and snow continued for the rest of our holiday. [+ of]
Synonyms: rotation, change, swing, variation More Synonyms of alternate
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Alternate actions, events, or processes regularly occur after each other.
They were streaked with alternate bands of colour.
Synonyms: alternating, interchanging, every other, rotating More Synonyms of alternate
alternatelyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
He could alternately bully and charm people.
She became alternately angry and calm.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If something happens on alternate days, it happens on one day, then happens on every second day after that. In the sameway, something can happen in alternate weeks, years, or other periods of time.
Lesley had agreed to Jim going skiing in alternate years.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use alternate to describe a plan, idea, or system which is different from the one already in operation and can be used instead of it.
His group was forced to turn back and take an alternate route.
...alternate forms of medical treatment.
Synonyms: substitute, alternative, other, different More Synonyms of alternate
5. countable noun
An alternate is a person or thing that replaces another, and can act or be used instead of them.
[US]
In most jurisdictions, twelve jurors and two alternates are chosen.
... meats and meat alternates.
Synonyms: substitute, reserve, deputy, relief More Synonyms of alternate
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Alternate is sometimes used, especially in American English, instead of alternative in meanings 2, 3, 4, and 5.
...an alternate lifestyle.
Synonyms: alternative, unusual, abnormal, irregular More Synonyms of alternate
More Synonyms of alternate
alternate in British English
verb (ˈɔːltəˌneɪt)
1. (often foll by with)
to occur or cause to occur successively or by turns
day and night alternate
2. (intransitive; often foll bybetween)
to swing repeatedly from one condition, action, etc, to another
he alternates between success and failure
3. (transitive)
to interchange regularly or in succession
4. (intransitive)
(of an electric current, voltage, etc) to reverse direction or sign at regular intervals, usually sinusoidally, the instantaneous value varying continuously
5. (intransitive; often foll byfor) theatre
to understudy another actor or actress
adjective (ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)
6.
occurring by turns
alternate feelings of love and hate
7.
every other or second one of a series
he came to work on alternate days
8.
being a second or further choice; alternative
alternate director
9. botany
a.
(of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged singly at different heights on either side of the stem
b.
(of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the spaces between other parts
Compare opposite (sense 4)
noun (ˈɔːltənɪt, ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)
10. US and Canadian
a person who substitutes for another in his or her absence; stand-in
Word origin
C16: from Latin alternāre to do one thing and then another, from alternus one after the other, from alter other
alternate in American English
(ˈɔltərnɪt; ˈæltərnɪt; for v. ˈɔltərˌneɪt; ˈæltərˌneɪt)
adjective
1.
occurring by turns; succeeding each other; one and then the other
alternate stripes of blue and white
2.
every other; every second
to report on alternate Tuesdays
3.
being one of two or more choices; alternative
4. Botany
a.
growing along the stem singly at different intervals, first on one side then the other, etc.
b.
placed at intervals between other parts, as in a flower
noun
5.
a person standing by to take the place of another if necessary; substitute
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈalterˌnated or ˈalterˌnating
6.
to do or use by turns
7.
to make happen or arrange by turns
verb intransitive
8.
to act, happen, etc. by turns; follow successively
good times alternate with bad
9.
to take turns
10.
to exchange places, etc. regularly
11. Electricity
to reverse direction periodically
said of a current
SIMILAR WORDS: ˌinterˈmittent
Derived forms
alternately (ˈalternately)
adverb
Word origin
L alternatus, pp. of alternare, to do by turns < alternus, one after the other < alter, other: see alter
Examples of 'alternate' in a sentence
alternate
And the less time we give that one to think of alternate arrangements, the less chance that he can circumvent our will.
Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MAN (2002)
He seemed to find the action invigorating: he did it several times with alternate hands.
West, Charles STAGE FRIGHT (2002)
She came over and stood directly behind me, pressing alternate knees lightly into my back.
Edward Docx THE CALLIGRAPHER (2002)
Unfortunately, when Flavian turned to practical magic on alternate afternoons, Christopher was anything but brilliant.
Diana Wynne Jones THE LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT (2002)
In other languages
alternate
British English: alternate /ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt/ ADJECTIVE
Alternate actions, events, or processes regularly occur after each other.
They were decorated with alternate bands of colour.