alternate

(noun, adjective, verb)

adjective

1. every second one of a series

- the cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays

Similar word(s): cyclic, cyclical

2. serving or used in place of another

- an alternative plan

Similar word(s): secondary, alternative, substitute

3. occurring by turns; first one and then the other

- alternating feelings of love and hate

Similar word(s): cyclic, cyclical, alternating

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

Sentences with alternate as an adjective:

- And bid alternate passions fall and rise. -Alexander Pope

- the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.

- Hyperlinked text is displayed in alternate color in a Web browser.

noun

1. someone who takes the place of another person

Similar word(s): replacement, surrogate

Definition categories: person, backup, relief, reliever, substitute

verb

1. go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions

Similar word(s): jump

Definition categories: change, alter, vary

2. exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions

Definition categories: social, exchange

3. be an understudy or alternate for a role

Similar word(s): understudy

Definition categories: cognition, con, learn, memorise, memorize

4. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

Similar word(s): flip, interchange, switch, tack

Definition categories: change, reverse, turn

5. do something in turns

Definition categories: change, act, move

Sentences with alternate as a verb:

- The flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.

- The land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.