# alternating

/ˈɔɫtɝˌneɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈɔːltənˌeɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alternating
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. happening in turns

adjective · CEFR B2

happening one after the other in a regular pattern.

For teachers: occurring in a repeating sequence where two or more things follow each other in turns.

- The pattern on the floor was made of alternating red and white tiles.
- The schedule consists of alternating shifts of day and night work to ensure the facility remains operational twenty-four hours a day.

### 2. electric current

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing an electric current that changes its direction many times every second.

For teachers: relating to an electric current that reverses its direction at regular intervals.

- Most wall outlets in homes provide alternating current rather than direct current.
- The development of alternating current systems allowed for the efficient long-distance transmission of electricity across the national grid.

### 3. mathematical series

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a list of numbers where the signs change between plus and minus.

For teachers: denoting a series in which successive terms have opposite signs, typically switching between positive and negative.

- The teacher explained how to calculate the sum of an alternating series.
- An alternating series converges if the absolute value of its terms decreases monotonically toward zero.

## Examples

- The traffic light is alternating between red and green.
- The committee uses an alternating schedule so both teams get equal meeting time.
- The alternating current in your home outlets reverses its direction many times per second, unlike the steady flow of direct current.

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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.