alternate

/ɒlˈtɜː(ɹ).nət/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: alternates · alternating · alternated

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Xảy ra theo lượt, lần lượt theo thời gian hoặc vị trí

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

And bid alternate passions fall and rise

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly). — Alternating; (of e.g. a pair of tinctures which a charge is coloured) succeeding in turns, or (relative to the field) counterchanged.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Xảy ra theo lượt, lần lượt theo thời gian hoặc vị trí

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

Goldschmidt (Austria; creation July 27, 1862): [...] party, argent and gules, an eagle of alternate colors, [...]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Sự thay đổi liên tục

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

Grateful alternates of substantial peace.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Người thay thế, lựa chọn thay thế

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

NounRegister: US

Examples

An alternate for the first-string quarterback played the entire first half.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “alternate” mean?

Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).

Is “alternate” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.