ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Alternate

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ɔlʈə(r).neʈ/ · Part of speech adjective

Quick meaning: Alternate is an adjective meaning Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).

Meaning

Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).

More Meanings

  1. (US) Other; alternative.
  2. (botany, of leaves) Distributed singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence
  3. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
  4. (US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
  5. (mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
  6. (US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
  7. (mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.

Example Sentences

the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
And bid alternate passions fall and rise
Grateful alternates of substantial peace.
He lives in an alternate universe and an alternate reality.

Word Forms

Synonyms for alternate

Depending on context, synonyms include seesaw, interchange, alternative, surrogate, jump, secondary.

Antonyms for alternate

Common opposites include opposite, paired.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include cyclical, secondary, interchange, cyclic, alternative, replacement.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.