alternate
verb (used without object)
to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually followed bywith ).
were alternating
-
past progressiveof alternate.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The transportation authority said in a later post that eastbound and westbound traffic were alternating turns on the eastbound bridge, but the westbound bridge remained closed.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 27, 2024
The Ministry of Emergency Management warned on Monday that parts of China were "alternating between drought and flood" and urged vigilance this week in monitoring dried-up riverbeds being inundated by intense rain.
From Reuters ● Sep. 1, 2022
During the late 1960s, even as Didion and Dunne were alternating month to month on “Points West,” they were hustling film projects.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 27, 2021
The Toronto Raptors were alternating defenses when Beal operated as the ballhandler in pick-and-roll plays.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 27, 2018
There were alternating rounds of yelling at the screen and laughing, and sighing and oohing.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
