Synonyms for

Alternate

Verb / ˈɔ:ltɜ:nʌt / / ˈɔ:ltɜ:ˌneɪt / Another word for alternate — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

To change repeatedly between two things

Synonyms & similar words

flipflop surrogate tack opposite interchange jump understudy alternative switch flip taketurns substitute replacement alternating rotate switch vary interchange fluctuate oscillate shift exchange substitute replace swap trade reciprocate move swerve deviate

Synonyms by register

Formal

alternative substitute different contrasting

Informal

other different another

Literary

vicissitudinous wavering

Antonyms

same identical consistent continuous regular parallel

Common collocations

  • alternate route
  • alternate day
  • alternate history
  • alternate reality
  • alternate energy
  • alternate choice
  • alternate perspective

Word family

noun alternative
verb alternate
adjective alternate
adverb alternately

Usage note

As a verb, 'alternate' means to occur in turn repeatedly. As an adjective, it means 'different' or 'other'. Be careful not to confuse it with 'alternative', which is primarily a noun or adjective meaning 'available as another possibility'.

Example sentences

  1. Mom and dad alternate driving the car on long road trips.
  2. I alternate between writing with my right and left hand.
  3. The weather can alternate between hot and cold in the same day.
  4. We alternate playing different games at recess.
  5. The teacher asked us to alternate reading paragraphs in class.

Quotes

  • 'The only way to deal with fear is to face it head on.' - Zig Ziglar
  • 'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.' - Winston Churchill
  • 'Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.' - Confucius

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