alternate meaning and definition

ALTERNATE noun

Definition of alternate (noun)

1. someone who takes the place of another person
   • synonyms: replacement, surrogate

ALTERNATE verb

Definition of alternate (verb)

1. go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions
   • synonyms: jump
2. exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions
3. be an understudy or alternate for a role
   • synonyms: understudy
4. reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)
   • synonyms: flip, flip-flop, interchange, switch, tack
5. do something in turns
   • "We take turns on the night shift"
   • synonyms: take turns

ALTERNATE adjective

Definition of alternate (adjective)

1. every second one of a series
   • "the cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays"; "jam every other day"- the White Queen
2. serving or used in place of another
   • "an alternative plan"
   • synonyms: alternative, substitute
3. occurring by turns; first one and then the other
   • "alternating feelings of love and hate"
   • synonyms: alternating
4. of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired
   • "stems with alternate leaves"
   • antonym: opposite