alternate
al
ˈɔ:l
awl
ter
nate
nɪt
nit
altercate

Definition & Meaning of "alternate"in English

alternate
01

done or happening every other time 

alternate definition and meaning
Grammatical Information
Composition
Simple
relational
ungradable
Examples
The committee meets on alternative Thursdays to discuss budget updates. 
02

happening in a back-and-forth pattern 

Examples
It was a strange day of alternate sunshine and rain, shifting back and forth. 
03

serving as an substitute option 

Examples
Due to heavy traffic, she decided to take the alternate route home. 
04

(of leaves, branches, etc) arranged on opposite sides of the stem in a staggered pattern 

Examples
The tree has alternate leaves that grow on either side of the stem. 
05

describing something that exists as a different or parallel version of something else 

Dialectamerican flagAmerican
Examples
The story takes place in an alternate universe where history unfolded differently. 
to alternate
01

to switch back and forth between two or more things, states, or conditions 

Grammatical Information
Composition
derived
Action verb
Regular
Present tense
alternate
3rd person singular
alternates
Present participle
alternating
Past simple
alternated
Past participle
alternated
Examples
The weather alternated between sunny and rainy throughout the day. 
02

to arrange things or people so that they follow one after the other in a repeated and predictable pattern 

Examples
He alternated studying with short breaks to stay focused. 
2.1

to come after one another in a regular, repeating sequence 

Examples
Dark stripes alternate with pale ones on the fabric. 
03

(of an electric current, voltage, etc.) to change direction at regular intervals, with its value continuously fluctuating over time 

Examples
In alternating current (AC), the flow of electricity alternates direction many times per second. 
04

to take turns doing something 

Examples
In the long drive, the couple would alternate driving every two hours to avoid fatigue. 
05

to switch people between roles, tasks, or shifts in a repeated or organized way 

Examples
The company decided to alternate employees between different departments to improve cross-training. 
06

to serve as an understudy for another actor, actress, or performer 

Examples
She was chosen to alternate for the lead actress in case of illness or emergency. 
Alternate
01

a backup person who substitutes when the primary individual is unavailable 

Dialectamerican flagAmerican
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Human
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
alternates
Examples
The alternate took over the lead role when the main actor fell ill. 
02

something that can be chosen instead of another option 

Dialectamerican flagAmerican
Examples
When the main route was closed, we had to take an alternate. 
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