# alternate

/ˈɔɫtɝˌneɪt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alternate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to switch back and forth

verb · CEFR B2

to happen or do something in turns, switching from one thing to another and back again.

For teachers: to occur or perform in a repeated, reciprocal succession. Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'with'.

- The weather seemed to alternate between rain and sunshine all afternoon.
- The director chose to alternate between close-up shots of the protagonist and wide-angle views of the desolate landscape to emphasize her isolation.

### 2. every second one

adjective · CEFR B2

every second thing in a series, or happening one after the other in a pattern.

For teachers: occurring by turns or in a series where members regularly intervene between others; every second member of a sequence.

- The club meets on alternate Saturdays, so we have a break every other week.
- The pattern required the weaver to use alternate strands of silk and wool to achieve the desired textural contrast in the final fabric.

### 3. another choice

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

another option or a different way of doing something.

For teachers: serving as an alternative or a different choice. Primarily used in American English where British English might prefer 'alternative'.

- If the main road is closed, we will have to find an alternate route.
- The committee proposed an alternate plan for the park's renovation after the initial design was rejected for being over budget.

### 4. a substitute person

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · American English

a person who is ready to take the place of someone else if they cannot attend.

For teachers: a person designated to take the place of another in a specific duty or role if the primary individual is unavailable.

- She was chosen as an alternate for the national debate team.
- The delegation included three primary members and one alternate who was required to attend all briefings in case a substitution became necessary.

### 5. leaf arrangement

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

leaves that grow at different levels on a stem rather than in pairs.

For teachers: describing leaves or buds that are arranged singly at different heights along a stem.

- You can identify this plant by its alternate leaves that zigzag up the branch.
- The species is easily distinguished from its relatives by its alternate leaf phyllotaxy, whereas most other plants in the genus exhibit opposite growth.

## Examples

- We have an alternate ready if the lead singer gets sick.
- The committee appointed an alternate to attend the conference in case the primary delegate was delayed by travel issues.
- In high-stakes orchestral performances, an alternate must remain as prepared as the principal player, ready to step in at a moment's notice without any drop in technical quality.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.