alternate

[ verb awl-ter-neyt, al-; adjective, noun awl-ter-nit, al- ]

/ verb ˈɔl tərˌneɪt, ˈæl-; adjective, noun ˈɔl tər nɪt, ˈæl- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR alternate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.

to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place; rotate (usually followed by with): Day alternates with night.

to change back and forth between conditions, states, actions, etc.: He alternates between hope and despair.

to take turns: My sister and I alternated in doing the dishes.

Electricity. to reverse direction or sign periodically.

Linguistics. to occur as a variant in alternation with another form.

verb (used with object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.

to perform or do in succession or one after another: to alternate comedy acts; to alternate jogging and walking.

to interchange successively or regularly: to alternate hot and cold compresses.

adjective

being in a constant state of succession or rotation; interchanged repeatedly one for another: Winter and summer are alternate seasons.

reciprocal; mutual: alternate acts of kindness.

every second one of a series: Read only the alternate lines.

constituting an alternative: The alternate route is more scenic.

alternative(defs 4, 6).

Botany.

placed singly at different heights on the axis, on each side in succession, or at definite angular distances from one another, as leaves.
opposite to the intervals between other organs: petals alternate with sepals.

noun

a person authorized to fill the position, exercise the duties, etc., of another who is temporarily absent; substitute.

Theater.

either of two actors who take turns playing the same role.
an understudy.

alternative.

Origin of alternate

First recorded in 1505–15, alternate is from the Latin word alternātus (past participle of alternāre). See altern, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM alternate

al·ter·nate·ly, adverb al·ter·nate·ness, noun al·ter·nat·ing·ly, adverb non·al·ter·nat·ing, adjective

qua·si-al·ter·nat·ing, adjective qua·si-al·ter·nat·ing·ly, adverb un·al·ter·nat·ed, adjective un·al·ter·nat·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH alternate

alternate alternative

Words nearby alternate

altered chord, altered state of consciousness, altern, alternans, alternant, alternate, alternate angles, alternate binaural loudness balance test, alternate cover test, alternate hemianesthesia, alternate host

Example sentences from the Web for alternating

She added in the high-pitched, over-enunciated voice, like she was alternating between sucking on helium and a bong.

SNL’s Kim Kardashian Konundrum: Why Nasim Pedrad’s Exit Hurts So Much |Jason Lynch |September 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They have also been baffling, alternating between high hope and disappointment.

Progressive-palooza: On Obama, Occupy, and Moral Monday |Jedediah Purdy |July 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
With alternating chapters, the novel takes us on a frenetic journey through the perspectives of these unlikely apocalyptos.

In a New Novel, Apathetic Teenagers Usher in the Apocalypse |Elliot Ackerman |June 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In alternating chapters, the two narrators of the novel describe their lives with Isaac, from two different periods in time.

This Week’s Hot Reads: March 3, 2014 |Nicholas Mancusi |March 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Complete three sets of 10 to 12 reps on each side, alternating legs, moving forward with a step in between each kick.

5 Exercises to Get Ski and Snowboard Ready |DailyBurn |January 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
An alternating current also produces a sound corresponding to the number of changes of direction.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 492, June 6, 1885 |Various
Eight months passed by in this fashion, good and evil days alternating.

Bohemians of the Latin Quarter |Henry Murger
Time, therefore, is an element in the operation of alternating currents.

Electricity for Boys |J. S. Zerbe
The alternating current is supposed to be more fatal than the continuous.

Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology |W. G. Aitchison Robertson
The regular beat of hoofs upon the sward followed; then an alternating tap-tap of horse's feet diminished down the trail.

Lazarre |Mary Hartwell Catherwood

British Dictionary definitions for alternating

alternate

verb (ˈɔːltəˌneɪt)

(often foll by with) to occur or cause to occur successively or by turns day and night alternate

(intr often foll by between) to swing repeatedly from one condition, action, etc, to another he alternates between success and failure

(tr) to interchange regularly or in succession

(intr) (of an electric current, voltage, etc) to reverse direction or sign at regular intervals, usually sinusoidally, the instantaneous value varying continuously

(intr often foll by for) theatre to understudy another actor or actress

adjective (ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)

occurring by turns alternate feelings of love and hate

every other or second one of a series he came to work on alternate days

being a second or further choice; alternative alternate director

botany

(of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged singly at different heights on either side of the stem
(of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the spaces between other partsCompare opposite (def. 4)

noun (ˈɔːltənɪt, ɔːlˈtɜːnɪt)

US and Canadian a person who substitutes for another in his absence; stand-in

Word Origin for alternate

C16: from Latin alternāre to do one thing and then another, from alternus one after the other, from alter other

Scientific definitions for alternating

alternate

[ ôl′tər-nĭt ]

Arranged singly at intervals on a stem or twig. Elms, birches, oaks, cherry trees, and hickory trees have alternate leaves. Compare opposite.

Arranged regularly between other parts, as stamens between petals on a flower.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

alternate

verb (used without object), al·ter·nat·ed, al·ter·nat·ing.