alternate

[ verb awl-ter-neyt, al-; adjective, noun awl-ter-nit, al- ]

/ verb ˈɔl tərˌneɪt, ˈæl-; adjective, noun ˈɔl tər nɪt, ˈæl- /

verb (used without object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.

to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually followed by with): Day alternates with night.

to change back and forth between conditions, states, actions, etc.: He alternates between hope and despair.

to take turns: My sister and I alternated in doing the dishes.

Electricity. to reverse direction or sign periodically.

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

verb (used with object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.

to perform or do in succession or one after another: to alternate comedy acts; to alternate jogging and walking.

to interchange successively or regularly: to alternate hot and cold compresses.

adjective

being in a constant state of succession or rotation; interchanged repeatedly one for another: Winter and summer are alternate seasons.

reciprocal; mutual: alternate acts of kindness.

every second one of a series: Read only the alternate lines.

constituting an alternative: The alternate route is more scenic.

alternative(defs 4, 6).

Botany.

placed singly at different heights on the axis, on each side in succession, or at definite angular distances from one another, as leaves.
opposite to the intervals between other organs: petals alternate with sepals.

noun

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

Theater.

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

alternative.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Did you collect all of last week’s words, but eftsoons forget what they mean? Don’t worry, we’re here to jog your memory. See how many words from the week of May 18 to 24 you can get right!

Question 1 of 7

weal

well-being, prosperity, or happiness.

the intervening time.

a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.

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Origin of alternate

First recorded in 1505–15, alternate is from the Latin word alternātus (past participle of alternāre). See altern, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM alternate

al·ter·nate·ly, adverbal·ter·nate·ness, nounal·ter·nat·ing·ly, adverbnon·al·ter·nat·ing, adjective

qua·si-al·ter·nat·ing, adjectivequa·si-al·ter·nat·ing·ly, adverbun·al·ter·nat·ed, adjectiveun·al·ter·nat·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alternate

alternate alternative

Words nearby alternate

altered chord, altered state of consciousness, altern, alternans, alternant, alternate, alternate angles, alternate binaural loudness balance test, alternate cover test, alternate hemianesthesia, alternate host

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for alternatingly

alternate

verb (ˈɔːltəˌneɪt)

(often foll by with) to occur or cause to occur successively or by turnsday and night alternate

(intr often foll by between) to swing repeatedly from one condition, action, etc, to anotherhe alternates between success and failure

(tr) to interchange regularly or in succession

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

(intr often foll by for) theatre to understudy another actor or actress

adjective (ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)

occurring by turnsalternate feelings of love and hate

every other or second one of a serieshe came to work on alternate days

being a second or further choice; alternativealternate director

botany

(of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged singly at different heights on either side of the stem
(of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the spaces between other partsCompare opposite (def. 4)

noun (ˈɔːltənɪt, ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)

US and Canadian a person who substitutes for another in his absence; stand-in

Word Origin for alternate

C16: from Latin alternāre to do one thing and then another, from alternus one after the other, from alter other

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for alternatingly

alternate

[ ôl′tər-nĭt ]

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

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

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alternate

verb (used without object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.

verb (used with object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

CAN YOU FEEL THE WEAL WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ?

Origin of alternate

OTHER WORDS FROM alternate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alternate

Words nearby alternate

British Dictionary definitions for alternatingly

verb (ˈɔːltəˌneɪt)

adjective (ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)

noun (ˈɔːltənɪt, ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)

Word Origin for alternate

Scientific definitions for alternatingly