ALTERNATE
Dictionary entry overview: What does alternate mean?
• ALTERNATE (noun)
The noun ALTERNATE has 1 sense:
1. someone who takes the place of another person
Familiarity information: ALTERNATE used as a noun is very rare.
• ALTERNATE (adjective)
The adjective ALTERNATE has 4 senses:
1. every second one of a series
2. allowing a choice
3. occurring by turns; first one and then the other
4. of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired
Familiarity information: ALTERNATE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• ALTERNATE (verb)
The verb ALTERNATE has 5 senses:
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
Familiarity information: ALTERNATE used as a verb is common.
Dictionary entry details
• ALTERNATE (noun)
Meaning:
Someone who takes the place of another person
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
alternate; surrogate; replacement
Hypernyms ("alternate" is a kind of...):
backup; backup man; fill-in; relief; reliever; stand-in; substitute (someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult))
• ALTERNATE (adjective)
Meaning:
Every second one of a series
Context examples:
the cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays / jam every other day
Similar:
cyclic; cyclical (recurring in cycles)
Meaning:
Allowing a choice
Synonyms:
alternative; alternate
Context example:
an alternative plan
Similar:
secondary (being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate)
Meaning:
Occurring by turns; first one and then the other
Synonyms:
alternating; alternate
Context example:
alternating feelings of love and hate
Similar:
cyclic; cyclical (recurring in cycles)
Meaning:
Of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired
Context example:
stems with alternate leaves
Domain category:
botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)
Antonym:
opposite (of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem)
• ALTERNATE (verb)
Meaning:
Go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
alternate; jump
Hypernyms (to "alternate" is one way to...):
alter; change; vary (make or become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence)
Sentence frames:
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "alternate" is one way to...):
exchange (hand over one and receive another, approximately equivalent)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "alternate"):
rotate (exchange on a regular basis)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Be an understudy or alternate for a role
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
understudy; alternate
Hypernyms (to "alternate" is one way to...):
con; learn; memorise; memorize (commit to memory; learn by heart)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
flip-flop; interchange; alternate; tack; switch; flip
Hypernyms (to "alternate" is one way to...):
change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Do something in turns
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
take turns; alternate
Context example:
We take turns on the night shift
Hypernyms (to "alternate" is one way to...):
act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "alternate"):
spell (take turns working)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
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