instead of

Idioms  

1. Also, in lieu of; in place of; in someone's stead. In substitution for, rather than. For example, She wore a dress instead of slacks, or They had a soprano in lieu of a tenor, or In place of soft drinks they served fruit juice, or The chairman spoke in her stead. Instead of dates from about 1200; in lieu of, which borrows lieu, meaning “place,” from French, dates from the late 1200s; in place of dates from the 1500s; and in someone's stead from the 1200s. Also see under in someone's shoes.

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Example Sentences

If GDP continues to rise and consumer spending and employment growth stay strong, the Federal Reserve will be in a more comfortable position to focus on lowering inflation instead of cutting rates, Russell also notes.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

A simple example: allowing builders to use a single central staircase, instead of two, which frees up space to add larger apartment units more suitable for families.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

Beckham, 23, was pulled over in Westminster last September after an officer saw him with both hands on his mobile, instead of the steering wheel, while at a red light in the Porsche 911 Carrera.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

Read this instead of the usual ‘best places to retire’ lists.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026

And eventually instead of shouting or throwing things, he’d play a major chord on the keyboard my mom got him, to show he’s happy, or a minor chord if he’s not.”

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold