How to Use alternate in a Sentence

alternate

1 of 3 adjective
Definition of alternatenext
Synonyms for alternatenext
  • Alternate shades of wood formed a pattern around the window.
  • We took an alternate route because of the traffic.
  • Due to an emergency, the plane landed at an alternate airport.
  • Life seemed to have alternate plans for Jeanne, though.
    — Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024
  • Steam Other Side of Mat Flip the mat and repeat step on the alternate side.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2023
  • Ships have been forced to lighten their load or find alternate routes in light of the constraints.
    — Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023
  • In that alternate world, a young Bruce Wayne is killed rather than his parents.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 May 2023
  • Luckily, most of the ones here have some alternate versions that change up the fit.
    — Isaiah Freeman-Schub, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023
  • But that was an alternate timeline, a path that did not exist.
    — Thomas Lake, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024
  • But Zemeckis knew how crucial the sequence was to the movie and went to Hanks with an alternate plan.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 10 May 2023
  • Three electors cast their votes for Nixon, and three alternate electors cast their votes for Kennedy.
    — Tori Otten, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023
  • There's a new addition to the NFL alternate helmet squad.
    — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 21 June 2023
  • The men’s attorneys say the tests plainly point to an alternate suspect.
    — Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 23 July 2023
  • That really is like being in an alternate world, while still being in the same one.
    — Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023
  • Wednesday saw the 22-track edition drop with a new alternate cover.
    — Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2023
  • After this pundit changed eight of them to the alternate picks, the lesson learned is the right answer is often the most obvious one.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024
  • Along with the Uchis image on the plexiglass, there are two alternate covers that Maitland worked on.
    — Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Jan. 2024
  • Julie Benko, the Fanny Brice alternate, has been playing the role every Thursday.
    — Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Aug. 2023
  • Palou needed to stay out for more than 20 laps on those red alternate tires, with Herta and others on the harder blacks an advantage at the end of the stint.
    — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 2 July 2023
  • Lanes were temporarily closed for two blocks and drivers had to use alternate routes in and out of downtown St. Louis.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
  • The update will bring sideloading and alternate app stores to iOS and let third-party browsers use their own engines.
    — Emma Roth, The Verge, 14 Feb. 2024
  • Make sure to check if local businesses are closed or have alternate hours.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 3 July 2023
  • Kunin, an alternate captain, will be one of the players relied upon to fill the leadership void.
    — Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024
  • The Lions wore silver pants, the throwback uniform or their alternate gray uniforms with the blue helmet for the the other four home games this season.
    — Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press, 12 Jan. 2024
  • The other half were to receive an alternate version, which instructed them to sign a pledge at the beginning.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023
  • Officials believe the road will take weeks to fix, meaning drivers will have to buckle up for longer, alternate routes in the meantime.
    — Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 11 June 2023
  • In an alternate universe, there was a little more Looking.
    — Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 20 June 2023
  • The company failed to seek approval of an alternate safety valve system and for failing to test the well safety valve systems used in the response.
    — Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 29 June 2023
  • No parking is allowed on main streets and alternate side parking is in effect on side streets after 10:00 p.m. tonight.
    — Journal Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024
  • Take alternate routes on less busy streets through neighborhoods.
    — Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
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alternate

2 of 3 verb
  • The poem alternates fear and hope.
  • The light and dark woods alternate to form an elegant pattern around the window.
  • The oval-like leaves have smooth edges and alternate along the branch.
    — Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Aug. 2023
  • Share the kids, share the home (in alternating shifts) and be grownups about the whole thing.
    — John Anderson, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2023
  • The third group had to go back and forth alternating time with the group and time alone.
    — Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2023
  • Use a fork to gently press alternating marks on the top of the cookie.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2023
  • Downs is great at alternating his speed and pace throughout the route stem.
    — Evan Frank, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Apr. 2023
  • But pressing the tines of a fork in an alternating cross pattern helps press the cookies out a bit.
    — Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2023
  • Next, lay the pinecones on top of the garland, alternating setting them upright and on their sides.
    — Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023
  • The lights are strung in an alternating pink and red pattern and can be used inside or outside.
    — Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 30 Jan. 2024
  • Jurors wore masks and sat in alternating chairs spaced three feet apart.
    — H. Claire Brown, New York Times, 29 Nov. 2023
  • Warm up with 2 minutes easy freestyle, then 4 x 25 yards alternating easy swim and sprint swim.
    — Mallory Creveling, Women's Health, 16 June 2023
  • Back then, the poles alternated warming, so melting from one ice sheet was buffered by the other.
    — Frank Hulley-Jones, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
  • By the way — IF allergy treatments are an option (Big If), then the only soul who has to alternate years on this plan is the cat.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2023
  • Each of the brothers will alternate time on the new ship with a three months on-and-off rotation, according to the company.
    — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2023
  • The seedings and pods would alternate each year, leading to different matchups as well.
    — Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 16 Nov. 2022
  • First: Get on a treadmill and alternate one minute of walking, one minute of jogging and one minute of running for a total of 18 minutes.
    — Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023
  • Some streets require you to alternate depending on the day (even side number on even days and odd side number on odd days).
    — Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 7 June 2023
  • The twelve signs are said to alternate in a yin and yang sequence, depending on whether the animal has an odd or even number of claws, hooves, or feet.
    — Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2022
  • The 13 alternating gold and red stripes symbolize the sun. Blue and gold, which is featured on the flag, is also Arizona's state colors.
    — Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2023
  • Villas, Dates and Bombshells The game alternates between turns at the villa and dates between players.
    — Rob Wieland, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
  • Use bigger branches on the bottom and smaller ones up top, alternating the thick ends on each row.
    — Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 31 Mar. 2023
  • The challenge alternates annually between cross-country races and races on the track at the speedway.
    — Lila Levinson, Dallas News, 22 July 2023
  • The Ravens continue to alternate wins and losses through six weeks after losing to the Giants on Sunday, 24-20.
    — Tim Bielik, cleveland, 20 Oct. 2022
  • Seen from above, Gaza used to be green and gray: large swaths of fields alternating with densely populated cities.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024
  • Over the eight days, game drives will alternate with bush walks with naturalist and Maasai guides and a hot air balloon ride over the savannah.
    — Laurie Werner, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
  • The signature Nordic Circuit consists of alternating between hot and cold treatments at leisure, from the Finnish sauna to cold plunges, steam rooms, hot tubs, and salt lounges.
    — Zoe Baillargeon, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2023
  • Our task was to tell a story together in alternating turns of 30 seconds each.
    — Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 13 June 2023
  • Then, alternate the shiny strips of roasted pepper and anchovy fillets, and add a few slices of fresh mozzarella.
    — David Tanis, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023
  • The first nine holes will feature team play, with teams alternating turns and working through a three-player lineup (one player sits out each week).
    — WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023
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alternate

3 of 3 noun
  • The town has elected five councilors and two alternates.
  • Stafford was added to the game as the fourth alternate that year.
    — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 31 Jan. 2023
  • The first server of a match begins on the right side and alternates from left to right each time a point is scored.
    — Dallas News, 30 June 2023
  • Depending on which players opt out of the Pro Bowl, that's when the alternates get a spot in the game.
    — Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 4 Jan. 2024
  • Herring alternates between a croon, a growl and a scream.
    — Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024
  • Kohrs is the first of the 23 jurors, and an additional three alternates, to speak out.
    — Danny Hakim, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Feb. 2023
  • The drag queen won second alternate at the national pageant in 2022.
    — Laura Latzko, The Arizona Republic, 15 June 2022
  • My husband and his FWB go out for dinner a couple of times a month and alternate who pays.
    — refinery29.com, 20 July 2022
  • Patton Kizzire of Tuscaloosa, Ala., replaced him as the first alternate.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2022
  • A mere 16 months ago, the 26-year-old journeyman was the first alternate for a Korn Ferry Tour event.
    — Eddie Pells, ajc, 18 June 2022
  • The reason was not made public, and the juror was replaced with an alternate.
    — Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2023
  • Rich Strike was an alternate for the Derby and only got in the race after a late withdrawal the day before the race.
    — Jim Chairusmi, WSJ, 12 May 2022
  • The goal is to whittle that number down to 17, which will include 12 jurors and five alternates.
    — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 25 Jan. 2024
  • Malone, a first-time alternate for the Fuel, finished third on the team in scoring with 21 goals and 27 assists.
    — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 30 Sep. 2022
  • It will be comprised of six jurors, three men and three women, as well as two alternates.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
  • Travelers can use the Hawthorne Bridge as an alternate.
    — oregonlive, 7 June 2022
  • The big airports aren't usually the only airports in town; think about the alternates.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 June 2023
  • His rookie campaign ended with Jones on the Pro Bowl team as an alternate.
    — Mark Daniels, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022
  • According to Bellinger, the single best jury member was an alternate who didn’t get to stay with the trial through the end.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 June 2022
  • As the runner-up, Jedd will serve as an alternate should Mihir be unable to compete.
    — Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2022
  • These are the alternates: A woman who works two days a week in a dental office and is married to a sales manager.
    — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 13 Mar. 2024
  • Eight of the 12 Pro Bowl alternates were drafted by Miami.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024
  • Name alternates, in case the initial agent is unable or unwilling, to serve.
    — Matthew Erskine, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2023
  • There was never a question or a doubt about changing it or going with an alternate.
    — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 18 Aug. 2022
  • The 49ers won’t have the capability to sit their nine Pro Bowl players or 12 alternates.
    — Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024
  • The alternate, whom Brodie didn’t identify, said he or she was hired and paid by an outside casting service and received $1,000 for the gig.
    — Patricia Hurtado, Bloomberg.com, 28 Mar. 2022
  • The white uniforms look like a worse version of the all-white alternates that the division-rival San Francisco 49ers have.
    — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 15 Aug. 2023
  • The team is so deep and the younger players so talented that sophomore Calynne Rosholt, a starter last year as a freshman, is serving as the alternate.
    — Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 6 May 2023
  • Bellinger also said that the most attentive juror was an alternate and did not weigh in on the final verdict.
    — Jessica Wang, EW.com, 6 June 2022
  • Corio, in turn, alternates between covering her mouth with her hands and smiling at her mom.
    — Madison Feller, ELLE, 9 Mar. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alternate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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