alternate

Meaning

Adj

1. Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).
2. Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly).
3. Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.
4. Other; alternative.
5. Distributed singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence

Noun

1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
2. A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
3. A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
4. A replacement of equal or greater value or function.

Verb

1. To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
2. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with.
3. To vary by turns.
4. To perform an alternation (removal of alternate vertices) on (a polytope or tessellation); to remove vertices (from a face or edge) as part of an alternation.

Synonyms

take turns

substitute

rotate

interchange

alternating

alternative

deputy

switch

rotating

change

understudy

vary

replacement

proxy

surrogate

attorney

modify

agent

alternation

every other

interlace

mutual

variable

alter

exchange

tack

diversify

flip

reciprocal

flip-flop

fluctuate

hesitate

crisscross

shift

second

2nd

representative

jump

double

stagger

stand by

switch off

temporary

change about

trade

turn

vacillate

variegate

variegated

fill-in

locum

locum tenens

pinch hitter

stick around

every other one

be irresolute

metagenic

follow in turn

stick about

make different

about-face

white and black

acting

agency

alt

black and white

circulate

common

commute

compensation

cross

cycle

distichous

every second

intercalate

intergrowth

interleave

intermit

intermittent

interpose

intersect

intersperse

intertwine

mixed

mutable

mutualism

optional

range

reciprocate

reclaim

recycle

♻️

relief

representation

reserve

rotation

run

second helping

seesaw

spare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɒl.ˈtɜː(ɹ).nət/

Etymology

From Latin alternō (“take turns”), from alternus (“one after another, by turns”), from alter (“other”) + -rnus. See altern, alter.