alternate
alternate Lexical Profile
alternate Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Occurring or succeeding by turns; every other, or every second in a sequence.
"The city council meets on alternate Tuesdays throughout the year."
North American Serving or used in place of another; available as a substitute or second choice.
"Due to highway construction, commuters were advised to take an alternate route to work."
Placed singly at different heights along opposite sides of the stem, rather than in pairs or whorls (of leaves, buds, or branches).
"Oak and birch trees can be identified in part by their alternate leaf arrangement."
• verb
To occur or pass back and forth successively between two or more states, actions, or subjects.
"Throughout the spring, spells of warm sunshine alternated with sudden rain showers."
To arrange or cause two or more things to follow one another regularly by turns.
"The baker alternated layers of sponge cake with rich chocolate ganache."
• noun
North American A person or thing appointed to take the place of another if necessary, such as a backup juror, delegate, or team member.
"She was selected as an alternate for the national gymnastics squad in case one of the starters was injured."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an adjective, 'alternate' strictly means occurring every second time or by turns (as in 'alternate days'), whereas 'alternative' refers to an available choice between two or more possibilities; however, in North American English, 'alternate' is also commonly used for a substitute option (as in 'an alternate route'). Additionally, the verb form is pronounced with a long 'a' in the final syllable (/ˈɔːltərneɪt/), while the adjective and noun forms end with an unstressed schwa (/ˈɔːltərnət/).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 16th century from Latin 'alternatus', the past participle of 'alternare' (to do by turns), derived from 'alternus' (one after the other) and ultimately from 'alter' (the other of two).