Alternate Definition & Meaning

alternate
adjective
  1. every second one of a series; "the cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays"; "jam every other day"- the White Queen
  2. serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan"
  3. occurring by turns; first one and then the other; "alternating feelings of love and hate"
  4. of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired; "stems with alternate leaves"
noun
  1. someone who takes the place of another person
verb
  1. go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions
  2. exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions
  3. be an understudy or alternate for a role
  4. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
  5. do something in turns; "We take turns on the night shift"

Synonyms for alternate

alternating adj

(of a current) reversing direction; "alternating current" occurring by turns; first one and then the other

♫ Rhymes
alternative adj

serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan" necessitating a choice between mutually exclusive

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
flip adj

marked by casual disrespect; "a flip answer to serious question

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
interchange noun

a junction of highways on different levels that permits traffic to move from one to another without crossing traffic

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
jump noun

a sudden and decisive increase; "a jump in attendance" an abrupt transition

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
replacement noun

the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
secondary adj

being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate; "the stone will be hauled to a secondary crusher

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
surrogate adj

providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties; "foster parent

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
switch noun

control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
understudy noun

an actor able to replace a regular performer when required be an understudy or alternate for a role

♫ Rhymes

"Alternate" in song lyrics

See how alternate is used in real songs:

  • "And pushed off a cliff, there's no alternate"
    Hopsin — Blood Energy Potion
  • "So therefore I'll make your head alternate"
    Jibbs — Big Big Kid
  • "Alternate:"
    — Hickory Dickory Dock

Words that rhyme with alternate

See all rhymes for alternate →

Usage tips for "alternate"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "alternate" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for alternate to find words that pair well.

Use "alternate" in a verse

Now that you know what "alternate" means, try using it in your own lyrics:

Generate a verse

Explore more

♫ Rhymes with alternate ↔ Synonyms for alternate 🔬 Words containing alternate

Frequently asked questions

What does alternate mean?
every second one of a series; "the cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays"; "jam every other day"- the White Queen serving or used in place of another; "an alternative plan" occurring by turns; first one and then the other; "alternating feelings of love and hate" of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired; "stems with alternate leaves" someone who takes the place of another person go back and forth
What part of speech is alternate?
Alternate is an adjective, a noun, and a verb.
How many definitions does alternate have?
Alternate has 10 definitions across 3 parts of speech (adjective, noun, verb).

Explore More Word Tools

Look up another word