What does instead mean?
Instead means In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative..
Instead
/ɪnˈstɛd/ · adverb
Meaning
In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative..
Example Sentences
I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead.
‘It's rather like a beautiful Inverness cloak one has inherited. Much too good to hide away, so one wears it instead of an overcoat and pretends it's an amusing new fashion.’
Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches.
Synonyms for instead
Antonyms for instead
Related Words
Word Forms
- enstead
- in steed
- in stead
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for instead?
Common synonyms include in lieu, alternatively, or else, as an alternative.
What is the opposite of instead?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use instead in a sentence?
I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead.
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.