- in an alternating sequence or position
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
alternately /ɔːlˈtɜːnɪtlɪ/ adv
al•ter•nate /verb ˈɔltɚˌneɪt, ˈæl-; adjective, noun -nɪt/USA pronunciation
v., -nat•ed, -nat•ing, adj., n.
v.
adj. [before a noun]
n. [countable]
al•ter•na•tion /ˌɔltɚˈneɪʃən, ˌæl-/USA pronunciation n. [countable* uncountable]See -alte-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to interchange regularly with one another in time or place: [~ + with + object]Day alternates with night.[~ + object]They alternated hot and cold compresses on the injury.
- [~ + between + object] to change back and forth between states, actions, etc.: He alternates between hope and despair.
- to take turns: [~ + in + object]The children alternate in doing chores.[~ + object]The children alternate chores.
adj. [before a noun]
- interchanged repeatedly one for another:alternate periods of clouds and sun.
- every second one of a series:Read only the alternate lines.
- alternative (def. 4): Do you have an alternate plan?
n. [countable]
- a person authorized to take the place of another:I sent my alternate to the meeting.
al•ter•na•tion /ˌɔltɚˈneɪʃən, ˌæl-/USA pronunciation n. [countable* uncountable]See -alte-.
al•ter•nate
(v. ôl′tər nāt′, al′-;adj., n. ôl′tər nit, al′-),USA pronunciation v., -nat•ed, -nat•ing, adj., n.
v.i.
v.t.
adj.
n.
al′ter•nate•ly, adv.
al′ter•nate•ness, n.
al′ter•nat′ing•ly, adv.
v.i.
- to interchange repeatedly and regularly with one another in time or place;
rotate (usually fol. 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.
- Electricityto reverse direction or sign periodically.
- Linguisticsto occur as a variant in alternation with another form.
v.t.
- 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.
adj.
- 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).
- [Bot.]
- Botanyplaced singly at different heights on the axis, on each side in succession, or at definite angular distances from one another, as leaves.
- Botanyopposite to the intervals between other organs:petals alternate with sepals.
n.
- a person authorized to fill the position, exercise the duties, etc., of another who is temporarily absent;
substitute. - Show Business[Theat.]
- either of two actors who take turns playing the same role.
- an understudy.
- alternative.
- Latin alternātus (past participle of alternāre). See altern, -ate1
- 1505–15
al′ter•nate•ness, n.
al′ter•nat′ing•ly, adv.
'alternately' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
backstroke
- bully-off
- crossruff
- interleave
- mark
- noughts and crosses
- pitch
- play
- pleadings
- press-up
- push-up
- rib
- ribbing
- singsong
- three-point turn
- turn
- up-and-down
- villanelle
- wah-wah
- about
- amoebaean
- anthem
- araeosystyle
- blink comparator
- boustrophedon
- cat's cradle
- checkered
- churn drill
- cytochrome
- déboulés
- deck tennis
- distichous
- double-acting
- double-tongue
- Dutch 200
- elegiac stanza
- featherstitch
- flasher
- foursome
- go
- heroic quatrain
- high milling
- interchange
- interlace
- intermittent
- irrational
- jerk
- lease
- long-and-short work
- Mexican hat dance