WordGarden.ioalternate
B2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈɔltərˌneɪt/
Meanings
Adjective
available or used instead of the usual or main one
happening every other time or in turns
Verb
to happen or be done in turns, switching back and forth
Noun
a substitute person who can take someone else's place
Beyond the definition
Imagine you usually drive a specific way to work, but today there is traffic. You take an alternate route. Here, "alternate" acts as a backup plan or a substitute. However, the word also describes things that happen by turns. Think of the stripes on a zebra—black, white, black, white. The colors alternate. If you exercise on alternate days, you might work out Monday, rest Tuesday, and work out Wednesday. The word comes from the Latin alternatus, meaning "one after the other." Whether it represents a second choice or a repeating pattern, "alternate" implies a shift from one thing to another.
"Alternate" is a versatile word with related but distinct meanings, used as an adjective, verb, and sometimes a noun. At its core, it suggests switching or substitution. If your primary plan fails, you use an alternate solution—a backup strategy ready to go. For example, "The team had an alternate venue prepared in case of rain."
But "alternate" implies more than just a second choice; it describes rhythm. To alternate is to switch back and forth repeatedly, like alternating between running and walking during a workout. This leads to the common usage of "every other." Events occurring on alternate years happen every second year (e.g., 2024, 2026, 2028).
The word also appears in creative and technical fields. An alternate universe explores a hypothetical world separate from our own. In botany, leaves are described as alternate when they are arranged singly at different heights along the stem, rather than in opposite pairs.
In some settings, an alternate is a person chosen to step in if needed (for example, an alternate juror or an alternate on a team).
So whether you are choosing between options, taking turns, or describing a staggered arrangement, "alternate" points to flexibility and variation.
Examples
- 1
Time pattern
We only see the children on alternate weekends.
- 2
Travel route
We took an alternate route to avoid the traffic downtown.
- 3
Shared driving
My sister and I alternate driving on long trips.
- 4
Class format
The classes alternate between online sessions and in-person workshops.
- Patternalternate between A and B
switch back and forth
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Exercise routine
The trainer told me to alternate running with walking until my knee feels better.
- Patternalternate A with B
do one, then the other
- 6
Replacement person
If the main speaker cancels, an alternate is ready to step in.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- remain constant
- happen simultaneously
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- alternate between
- alternate with
- alternate work and rest
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- alternatenounverbadjective
Forms
- alternating-ing formverbnounadjective
- alternatespluralnounverbadjective
- alternatedpast tenseverbnounadjective