alternate

American  

[awl-ter-neyt, al-, awl-ter-nit, al-] / ˈɔl tərˌneɪt, ˈæl-, ˈɔl tər nɪt, ˈæl- /

verb (used without object)

alternates, present (3rd person singular) alternated, past participle, past alternating present participle

1. to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually followed bywith ).

   Day alternates with night.

2. to change back and forth between conditions, states, actions, etc..

   He alternates between hope and despair.

3. to take turns.

   My sister and I alternated in doing the dishes.

4. Electricity. to reverse direction or sign periodically.

5. Linguistics. to occur as a variant in alternation with another form.

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verb (used with object)

alternates, present (3rd person singular) alternated, past participle, past alternating present participle

1. to perform or do in succession or one after another.

   to alternate comedy acts; to alternate jogging and walking.

2. to interchange successively or regularly.

   to alternate hot and cold compresses.

adjective

1. being in a constant state of succession or rotation; interchanged repeatedly one for another.

   Winter and summer are alternate seasons.

2. reciprocal; mutual.

   alternate acts of kindness.

3. every second one of a series.

   Read only the alternate lines.

4. constituting an alternative.

   The alternate route is more scenic.

5. alternative.

6. Botany.

   1. placed singly at different heights on the axis, on each side in succession, or at definite angular distances from one another, as leaves.

   2. opposite to the intervals between other organs.

      petals alternate with sepals.

noun

1. a person authorized to fill the position, exercise the duties, etc., of another who is temporarily absent; substitute.

2. Theater.

   1. either of two actors who take turns playing the same role.

   2. an understudy.

3. alternative.

alternate British  

verb

1. (often foll by with) to occur or cause to occur successively or by turns

   day and night alternate

2. to swing repeatedly from one condition, action, etc, to another

   he alternates between success and failure

3. (tr) to interchange regularly or in succession

4. (intr) (of an electric current, voltage, etc) to reverse direction or sign at regular intervals, usually sinusoidally, the instantaneous value varying continuously

5. theatre to understudy another actor or actress

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adjective

1. occurring by turns

   alternate feelings of love and hate

2. every other or second one of a series

   he came to work on alternate days

3. being a second or further choice; alternative

   alternate director

4. botany

   1. (of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged singly at different heights on either side of the stem

   2. (of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the spaces between other parts Compare opposite

noun

1. a person who substitutes for another in his absence; stand-in

alternate Scientific  

/ ôl′tər-nĭt /

1. Arranged singly at intervals on a stem or twig. Elms, birches, oaks, cherry trees, and hickory trees have alternate leaves.

2. Compare opposite

3. Arranged regularly between other parts, as stamens between petals on a flower.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• quasi-alternatingly
  adverb
• quasi-alternating
  adjective
• unalternated
  adjective
• alternateness
  noun
• unalternating
  adjective
• alternately
  adverb
• nonalternating
  adjective
• alternatingly
  adverb

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has alternated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have alternated
  perfect
• am alternating
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been alternating
  perfect progressive
• are alternating
  progressive
• has been alternating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• alternates
  singular 3rd person
• alternating
  participle
• is alternating
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had alternated
  perfect
• were alternating
  progressive plural
• alternated
  participle
• was alternating
  progressive singular
• had been alternating
  perfect progressive
• alternated
  simple

Future

• will alternate
  simple
• will have alternated
  perfect
• will be alternating
  progressive
• will have been alternating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of alternate

First recorded in 1505–15, alternate is from the Latin word alternātus (past participle of alternāre ). See altern, -ate ¹

Explanation

On a checkerboard, black squares alternate with white ones. As a verb, alternate means to do something in turns. As a noun, an alternate is a replacement. While the noun and verb seem not to mean the same thing, think of it this way: If you are brought on in a game to be someone's alternate, you are there to take their turn. Alternate can also be used as an adjective, meaning different or other. An alternate view of history is one that looks at the past from an uncommon perspective. Pay attention to the pronunciation of alternate: as a verb the end is pronounced "-nāt" and as a noun or adjective "-nət."

Example Sentences

It also plays homage to previous Gorillaz collaborators who have departed by utilizing unused or alternate takes from past projects.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026

But it's less Spider-Man and more Spider-Noir in an alternate universe spin-off which has taken a slightly darker turn.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

They are seeking class-action status and compensation for finding alternate housing.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Earlier this year, NV Energy informed Liberty that it would no longer serve as its wholesale energy provider after mid-May next year, and urged Liberty to make haste to secure an alternate supplier.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

There wasn't an alternate suit for Valentina Tereshkova, but luckily she had no problems with her suit as she climbed into Vostok 6.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson

Related Words

• alter
• intersperse
• rotate
• vary
• waver