Alternate Definition

ôltər-nāt, ăl-

alternated, alternates, alternating

verb

alternated, alternates, alternating

To occur in a successive manner.

Day alternating with night.

American Heritage

To do or use by turns.

Webster's New World

To act, happen, etc. by turns; follow successively.

Good times alternate with bad.

Webster's New World

To act or proceed by turns.

The students alternated at the computer.

American Heritage

To make happen or arrange by turns.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
continue

adjective

Happening or following in turns; succeeding each other continuously.

Alternate seasons of the year.

American Heritage

Occurring by turns; succeeding each other; one and then the other.

Alternate stripes of blue and white.

Webster's New World

Designating or relating to every other one of a series.

Alternate lines.

American Heritage

Every other; every second.

To report on alternate Tuesdays.

Webster's New World

Serving or used in place of another; substitute.

An alternate plan.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
opposite
necessary

noun

alternates

A person acting in the place of another; a substitute.

American Heritage

A person standing by to take the place of another if necessary; substitute.

Webster's New World

An alternative.

American Heritage

That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.

Wiktionary

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

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
necessity

Other Word Forms of Alternate

Noun

Singular:

alternate

Plural:

alternates

Origin of Alternate

Latin alternāre alternāt- from alternus by turns from alter other al-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Latin alternō (“take turns”), alternus (“one after another, by turns”), from alter (“other”). See altern, alter.

From Wiktionary