im钱包官网|alternatively

ALTERNATIVELY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

ALTERNATIVELY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

Dictionary

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

+Plus

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in

/

Sign up

English (UK)

Search

Search

English

Meaning of alternatively in English

alternativelyadverb uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv.li/ us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ɑːlˈtɝː.nə.t̬ɪv.li/

Add to word list

Add to word list

B2 used to suggest another possibility: We could go to the Indian restaurant, or alternatively, we could try that new Italian place. Synonym

instead

More examplesFewer examplesYou could catch the 18.30 train - alternatively, you could wait for the 19.50 fast train.Mix two tablespoons of sugar, or alternatively honey, into the mixture.Post this order form in the envelope provided. Alternatively, phone our order line or order online from our website.It would be a six-month wait for the operation but, alternatively, you could pay for private treatment.The quickest way is to take the motorway. Alternatively, there is the coastal route, which is much prettier.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Replacing and exchanging

alternate

bargain something away

behalf

change over

change places idiom

compensation

lieu

make up for something

name

novate

part exchange

someone's answer to someone/something idiom

spare

spell

sub out something

substitutability

substitutable

substitute

substitution

substitutive

See more results »

Grammar

Alternate(ly), alternative(ly)The adjective alternate and the adverb alternately mean ‘first one thing, then another thing and then the first thing again’. When we refer to time, we can also use the phrase every other day, every other week, etc. …

Alternate(ly)The adjective alternate and the adverb alternately mean ‘first one thing, then another thing and then the first thing again’. When we refer to time, we can also use the phrase every other day, every other week, etc. …

Alternative(ly)Alternative(ly) means ‘something that is different and unusual and offers a possible choice’: …

(Definition of alternatively from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

alternatively | American Dictionary

alternativelyadverb [ not gradable ] us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ɔlˈtɜr·nə·t̬ɪv·li/

Add to word list

Add to word list

in a way that offers a choice between two or more things: We could go to the Mexican restaurant, or alternatively (= instead of that), we could try that new Italian place.

(Definition of alternatively from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of alternatively

alternatively

Alternatively, one can propose a general licensing principle that permits such violations at that level.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, higher early depression scores in the intervention group could reflect a failure of randomization or simple random fluctuation.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, a manualized and structured therapy may have brought about more improvement or a therapy using a different theoretical orientation.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, the parents' interaction styles may have differed.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, it is possible that a temporal processing disturbance alone is sufficient to explain semantic priming dysfunction in this population.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, some researchers devote to the use of virtual reality to improve the human/robot interaction by an immersive interactional environment.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, they might reflect more general patterns that differentiate types of treatment facilities.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, understanding false belief may be enhanced, but more modestly.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, the script might be entirely explicit, perhaps written in some form of computer language, running on a computer.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, a right to a reasonable standard of conduct has the form of a conclusive right though it is not fully specified.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, we could search for the corporate governance channel from a different angle.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, she could use her creative life as the benchmark and reflect on what weight she should rationally award her health.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, low socio-economic status in childhood could be associated with both lung disease and depression later in life as links to both have been demonstrated.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, relicts of the intruding layer may solidify completely and not be sampled by subsequent eruptions.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Alternatively, patient safety and appropriateness studies develop a target utilization rate based on expert opinion of best practices of medical care.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of alternatively?

B2

Translations of alternatively

in Chinese (Traditional)

（用來建議別種可能性）要不，或者…

See more

in Chinese (Simplified)

（用来建议别种可能性）要不，或者…

See more

in Spanish

si no, o bien, alternativamente…

See more

in Portuguese

outra solução seria..., em vez disso, de outro modo…

See more

in more languages

in Marathi

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

in Tamil

in Hindi

in Gujarati

in Danish

in Swedish

in Malay

in German

in Norwegian

in Urdu

in Ukrainian

in Russian

in Telugu

in Arabic

in Bengali

in Czech

in Indonesian

in Thai

in Vietnamese

in Polish

in Korean

in Italian

त्या पेक्षा, त्या ऐवजी…

See more

または, そうでなければ, 代案として…

See more

alternatif olarak, bir başka olasılık olarak, yoksa…

See more

autrement…

See more

com a alternativa…

See more

anders…

See more

மற்றொரு சாத்தியத்தை பரிந்துரைக்க பயன்படுகிறது…

See more

वैकल्पिक रूप से…

See more

વૈકલ્પિક રીતે, એક વિકલ્પ તરીકે…

See more

alternativt…

See more

alternativt…

See more

dengan plihan lain…

See more

anderenfalls…

See more

alternativt…

See more

متبادل طور پر…

See more

альтернативно…

See more

или же…

See more

అది కాకపోతే…

See more

خَيار بَديل…

See more

বিকল্পে, অন্য একটি সম্ভাবনার পরামর্শ দিতে ব্যবহৃত…

See more

jinak, nebo…

See more

bergantian…

See more

โดยมีทางเลือก…

See more

như một sự lựa chọn…

See more

ewentualnie, w przeciwnym wypadku…

See more

그 대신에…

See more

alternativamente, altrimenti, o…

See more

Need a translator?

Get a quick, free translation!

Translator tool

Browse

alternative lifestyle

alternative medicine

alternative technology

alternative therapy

alternatively

alternator

although

altimeter

altitude

Word of the Day

response

UK

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɒns/

US

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɑːns/

an answer or reaction

About this

Blog

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)

March 06, 2024

Read More

New Words

inverse vaccine

March 11, 2024

More new words

has been added to list

To top

Contents

EnglishAmericanExamplesTranslations

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Learn

Learn

Learn

New Words

Help

In Print

Word of the Year 2021

Word of the Year 2022

Word of the Year 2023

Develop

Develop

Develop

Dictionary API

Double-Click Lookup

Search Widgets

License Data

About

About

About

Accessibility

Cambridge English

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Consent Management

Cookies and Privacy

Corpus

Terms of Use

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Dictionary

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Translations

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in /

Sign up

English (UK)  

Change

English (UK)

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Follow us

Choose a dictionary

Recent and Recommended

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Grammar and thesaurus

Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

British and American pronunciations with audio

English Pronunciation

Translation

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Dictionary +Plus

Word Lists

Choose your language

English (UK)  

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Contents

English 

 Adverb

American 

 Adverb

Examples

Translations

Grammar

All translations

My word lists

Add alternatively to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

More

Go to your word lists

Tell us about this example sentence:

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

ALTERNATIVELY definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

ALTERNATIVELY definition | Cambridge English Dictionary

Dictionary

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

+Plus

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in

/

Sign up

English (US)

Search

Search

English

Meaning of alternatively in English

alternativelyadverb us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ɑːlˈtɝː.nə.t̬ɪv.li/ uk

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv.li/

Add to word list

Add to word list

B2 used to suggest another possibility: We could go to the Indian restaurant, or alternatively, we could try that new Italian place. Synonym

instead

More examplesFewer examplesYou could catch the 18.30 train - alternatively, you could wait for the 19.50 fast train.Mix two tablespoons of sugar, or alternatively honey, into the mixture.Post this order form in the envelope provided. Alternatively, phone our order line or order online from our website.It would be a six-month wait for the operation but, alternatively, you could pay for private treatment.The quickest way is to take the highway. Alternatively, there is the coastal route, which is much prettier.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Replacing and exchanging

alternate

analog

bargain something away

behalf

change over

compensation

instead of

lieu

make up for something

name

novate

someone's answer to someone/something idiom

spare

spell

step into the breach idiom

sub out something

substitutability

substitutable

substitute

substitution

See more results »

Grammar

Alternate(ly), alternative(ly)The adjective alternate and the adverb alternately mean ‘first one thing, then another thing and then the first thing again’. When we refer to time, we can also use the phrase every other day, every other week, etc. …

Alternate(ly)The adjective alternate and the adverb alternately mean ‘first one thing, then another thing and then the first thing again’. When we refer to time, we can also use the phrase every other day, every other week, etc. …

Alternative(ly)Alternative(ly) means ‘something that is different and unusual and offers a possible choice’: …

(Definition of alternatively from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

alternatively | Intermediate English

alternativelyadverb [ not gradable ] us

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/ɔlˈtɜr·nə·t̬ɪv·li/

Add to word list

Add to word list

in a way that offers a choice between two or more things: We could go to the Mexican restaurant, or alternatively (= instead of that), we could try that new Italian place.

(Definition of alternatively from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of alternatively

alternatively

A bad kiss, alternatively, can lead to chemical chaos.

From Washington Post

Alternatively, attackers can imitate the operational methods performed by other malware, needed for the success of the operation (persistence methods for example).

From VentureBeat

Alternatively, state medical boards could mandate graduate medical education pertaining to the topic.

From Baltimore Sun

Alternatively, with unions interests more in line with those of management, the union may be in danger of being co-opted.

From Huffington Post

Alternatively, if she is smart enough she can get a minor or double major that would let her have her art and job prospects.

From TIME

You could, alternatively, contaminate the victim's diet with high levels of aflatoxin, which is associated with liver cancer.

From Slate Magazine

Alternatively, you can go to your phone's global settings and turn off location access to the entire app.

From Chicago Tribune

Alternatively, you could tell them that you already made travel plans for that week and can't change them.

From New York Post

Alternatively, if you like, you could say the interconnectedness of the modern financial industry is to blame.

From Huffington Post

Alternatively, look for cleaning products marked "green" and be careful not to confuse "natural" products for those which are safer to use.

From Huffington Post

Alternatively, simulations of structure formation suggest that primordial filaments connecting galaxies might be common.

From National Geographic

Alternatively, unlawful immigrant households could become solvent only if all means-tested welfare and nearly all public education benefits were eliminated.

From Heritage.org

Alternatively, diet may again win out if scientists looked at memory skills.

From National Geographic

Alternatively, a court order -- such as in a divorce proceeding or probate case -- will be considered a final determination.

From Minneapolis Star Tribune

Alternatively, if the planet is sufficiently far away from its host star, we can also learn about a planet's atmosphere by imaging it.

From Phys.Org

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of alternatively?

B2

Translations of alternatively

in Chinese (Traditional)

（用來建議別種可能性）要不，或者…

See more

in Chinese (Simplified)

（用来建议别种可能性）要不，或者…

See more

in Spanish

si no, o bien, alternativamente…

See more

in Portuguese

outra solução seria..., em vez disso, de outro modo…

See more

in more languages

in Marathi

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

in Tamil

in Hindi

in Gujarati

in Danish

in Swedish

in Malay

in German

in Norwegian

in Urdu

in Ukrainian

in Russian

in Telugu

in Arabic

in Bengali

in Czech

in Indonesian

in Thai

in Vietnamese

in Polish

in Korean

in Italian

त्या पेक्षा, त्या ऐवजी…

See more

または, そうでなければ, 代案として…

See more

alternatif olarak, bir başka olasılık olarak, yoksa…

See more

autrement…

See more

com a alternativa…

See more

anders…

See more

மற்றொரு சாத்தியத்தை பரிந்துரைக்க பயன்படுகிறது…

See more

वैकल्पिक रूप से…

See more

વૈકલ્પિક રીતે, એક વિકલ્પ તરીકે…

See more

alternativt…

See more

alternativt…

See more

dengan plihan lain…

See more

anderenfalls…

See more

alternativt…

See more

متبادل طور پر…

See more

альтернативно…

See more

или же…

See more

అది కాకపోతే…

See more

خَيار بَديل…

See more

বিকল্পে, অন্য একটি সম্ভাবনার পরামর্শ দিতে ব্যবহৃত…

See more

jinak, nebo…

See more

bergantian…

See more

โดยมีทางเลือก…

See more

như một sự lựa chọn…

See more

ewentualnie, w przeciwnym wypadku…

See more

그 대신에…

See more

alternativamente, altrimenti, o…

See more

Need a translator?

Get a quick, free translation!

Translator tool

Browse

alternative lifestyle

alternative medicine

alternative technology

alternative therapy

alternatively

alternator

although

altimeter

altitude

Word of the Day

response

UK

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɒns/

US

Your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio

/rɪˈspɑːns/

an answer or reaction

About this

Blog

Forget doing it or forget to do it? Avoiding common mistakes with verb patterns (2)

March 06, 2024

Read More

New Words

inverse vaccine

March 11, 2024

More new words

has been added to list

To top

Contents

EnglishIntermediateExamplesTranslations

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Learn

Learn

Learn

New Words

Help

In Print

Word of the Year 2021

Word of the Year 2022

Word of the Year 2023

Develop

Develop

Develop

Dictionary API

Double-Click Lookup

Search Widgets

License Data

About

About

About

Accessibility

Cambridge English

Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Consent Management

Cookies and Privacy

Corpus

Terms of Use

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Dictionary

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Translations

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Translate

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Shop

Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

My profile

+Plus help

Log out

Log in /

Sign up

English (US)  

Change

English (UK)

English (US)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Follow us

Choose a dictionary

Recent and Recommended

Definitions

Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English

English

Learner’s Dictionary

Essential British English

Essential American English

Grammar and thesaurus

Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English

Grammar

Thesaurus

Pronunciation

British and American pronunciations with audio

English Pronunciation

Translation

Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.

Bilingual Dictionaries

English–Chinese (Simplified)

Chinese (Simplified)–English

English–Chinese (Traditional)

Chinese (Traditional)–English

English–Dutch

Dutch–English

English–French

French–English

English–German

German–English

English–Indonesian

Indonesian–English

English–Italian

Italian–English

English–Japanese

Japanese–English

English–Norwegian

Norwegian–English

English–Polish

Polish–English

English–Portuguese

Portuguese–English

English–Spanish

Spanish–English

English–Swedish

Swedish–English

Semi-bilingual Dictionaries

English–Arabic

English–Bengali

English–Catalan

English–Czech

English–Danish

English–Gujarati

English–Hindi

English–Korean

English–Malay

English–Marathi

English–Russian

English–Tamil

English–Telugu

English–Thai

English–Turkish

English–Ukrainian

English–Urdu

English–Vietnamese

Dictionary +Plus

Word Lists

Choose your language

English (US)  

English (UK)

Español

Русский

Português

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

中文 (简体)

正體中文 (繁體)

Polski

한국어

Türkçe

日本語

Tiếng Việt

Nederlands

Svenska

Dansk

Norsk

हिंदी

বাঙ্গালি

मराठी

ગુજરાતી

தமிழ்

తెలుగు

Українська

Contents

English 

 Adverb

Intermediate 

 Adverb

Examples

Translations

Grammar

All translations

My word lists

Add alternatively to one of your lists below, or create a new one.

More

Go to your word lists

Tell us about this example sentence:

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word.

The sentence contains offensive content.

Cancel

Submit

Alternatively Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Alternatively Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Menu Toggle

Merriam-Webster Logo

Games & Quizzes

Games & Quizzes

Word of the Day

Grammar

Wordplay

Word Finder

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Settings

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

More

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Log In

Username

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

Est. 1828

Dictionary

Definition

adjective

noun

adjective

2

adjective

noun

Synonyms

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing

Related Articles

Entries Near

Cite this EntryCitation

Share

Kids DefinitionKids

Medical DefinitionMedical

Legal DefinitionLegal

More from M-W

Show more

Show more

Citation

Share

Kids

Medical

Legal

More from M-W

Save Word

To save this word, you'll need to log in.

Log In

alternative

1 of 2

adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive

ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv 

al-

Synonyms of alternative

1

: offering or expressing a choice

several alternative plans

2

: different from the usual or conventional: such as

a

: existing or functioning outside the established cultural, social, or economic system

an alternative newspaper alternative lifestyles

b

: of, relating to, or being rock music that is regarded as an alternative to conventional rock and is typically influenced by punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, or folk music

an alternative band

also

: of, relating to, or being music of a genre other than rock that is similarly regarded as an alternative to the conventional music of that genre

alternative country

c

: of or relating to alternative medicine

alternative therapies

3

: occurring or succeeding by turns : alternate sense 1

alternatively

adverb

alternativeness

noun

alternative

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen

a government facing the alternative of high taxes or poor highways

b

: an opportunity for deciding between two or more courses or propositions

the alternative of going by train or by plane

2

a

: one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen

The menu offered several vegetarian alternatives.

b

: something which can be chosen instead

The only alternative to intervention.

3

: alternative rock music

a fan of alternative

Synonyms

Noun

choice

discretion

druthers [dialect]

election

liberty

option

pick

preference

selection

volition

way

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Choose the Right Synonym for alternative

choice, option, alternative, preference, selection, election mean the act or opportunity of choosing or the thing chosen. choice suggests the opportunity or privilege of choosing freely.

freedom of choice

option implies a power to choose that is specifically granted or guaranteed.

the option of paying now or later

alternative implies a need to choose one and reject another possibility.

equally attractive alternatives

preference suggests a choice guided by one's judgment or predilections.

a preference for cool weather

selection implies a range of choice.

a varied selection of furniture

election implies an end or purpose which requires exercise of judgment.

doing a tax return forces certain elections on you

Examples of alternative in a Sentence

Adjective

Scientists are developing an alternative approach to treating the disease.

He developed an alternative design for the new engine.

Noun

We decided to leave since our only other alternative was to wait in the rain.

I was offered no alternative.

The menu offered several vegetarian alternatives.

Recent Examples on the WebAdjective

Soundgarden’s major label debut for A&M Records came at an awkward time when their sound was a little too dark for mainstream hard rock, but future Seattle compatriots Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Alice in Chains hadn’t yet primed alternative radio for something heavier.

—Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Mar. 2024

The airline is considering switching to other variants of teh Max and is in talks with Boeing rival Airbus SE on alternative aircraft that could replace some of its massive Max 10 order.

—Mary Schlangenstein, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024

Along with the production design, the clothes are the most visible way in which a film transports us to another decade or century (or to an alternative reality, in the case of the fantasy films that tend to populate the other slots in the best-costume lineup).

—Liam Hess, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024

In this alternative universe, subversive and rebellious young people occupy buildings megacorporation IBM’s buildings, hack into crucial infrastructure and create a vibrant underground music scene.

—James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Mar. 2024

Moving forward, TruTV will be home to exclusive live games (including games in the upcoming March Madness college basketball tournament and MotoGP races) as well as alternative broadcasts of NBA, MLB and NHL games on TNT and TBS.

—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024

The song sounds like the sort of late-night-vibe, hip-hop-adjacent, alternative R&B popularized by acts like 6lack, Brent Faiyaz, and Bryson Tiller at its most minimalist.

—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024

Ever since the boom of the side hustle, freelancing, or gig economy within recent years since the pandemic, holding down an alternative or secondary source of supplementary income has become the norm.

—Rachel Wells, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

Beijing is also trying to create an alternative economic system that doesn’t rely as heavily on the U.S., such as pushing for greater use of the Yuan internationally.

—Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 26 Feb. 2024

Noun

The sales team may see one route and risks of alternatives while the operations team may see the opposite.

—Ryan Weissmueller, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

Rosemead’s Savannah Memorial Park began the year California became a state, 1850, and was many dead Protestants’ only alternative to Catholic graveyards.

—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024

Related article The night train revolution has been hailed as an alternative to airplanes.

—CNN, 26 Feb. 2024

International flights still require a valid passport or acceptable alternative; a Real ID card alone will not suffice.

—The Indianapolis Star, 26 Feb. 2024

The Italian brand, based in the town of Carpi nearby Bologna, reported sales of more than $220 million last July and is known worldwide for being an alternative to the expensive offerings of the big luxury brands, with a keen eye for experimentation, trends and more affordable prices.

—Pino Gagliardi, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2024

People turn to it as a more budget-friendly alternative to Spanx’s viral AirEssentials Half-Zip Sweatshirt and AirEssentials Wide-Leg Pants, a similar set that’s been featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things list and regularly sells out for its softness and comfort.

—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024

But a veritable rainbow of alternatives—including blue, green, pink, and white hydrogen—could offer cleaner ways to use the fuel.

—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2024

The two governmental agencies have been in constant contact since the meeting, and are looking at possible alternatives and solutions, according to the statement.

—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2024

See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alternative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French alternatif "occurring by turns, alternating," borrowed from Medieval Latin alternātīvus, from Latin alternātus, past participle of alternāre "to ebb and flow, act in alternation, arrange in alternating order" + -īvus -ive — more at alternate entry 1

Noun

borrowed from French & Medieval Latin; French alternative, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin alternātīva, noun derivative from feminine of alternātīvus "occurring by turns" — more at alternative entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Noun

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of alternative was

in 1540

See more words from the same year

Phrases Containing alternative

adult alternative

alternative country

alternative pop

alternative music

alternative school

alternative minimum tax

alternative energy

alternative medicine

alternative fuel

alternative rock

alternative power

Articles Related to alternative

The History of 'Alt-'

White supremacists have co-opted a combining form traditionally used for musical and literary genres. Why?

Dictionary Entries Near alternative

alternation of generations

alternative

alternative cost

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

Style

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

“Alternative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternative. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Post the Definition of alternative to Facebook

Facebook

Share the Definition of alternative on Twitter

Twitter

Kids Definition

alternative

1 of 2

adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive

ȯl-ˈtər-nət-iv 

 also  al-

1

: offering or expressing a choice

alternative plans

2

: being one of the things between which a choice is to be made : alternate

an alternative route

alternatively

adverb

alternativeness

noun

alternative

2 of 2

noun

1

: a chance to choose between two or more things only one of which may be chosen

the alternative of going by bus or car

2

: one of the things between which a choice is to be made

Medical Definition

alternative

adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive

ȯl-ˈtər-nət-iv, al- 

: of, relating to, or based on alternative medicine

alternative therapies

Legal Definition

alternative

1 of 2

adjective

al·​ter·​na·​tive

ȯl-ˈtər-nə-tiv, al- 

1

: alternate sense 1

2

: offering or expressing a choice

an alternative contract

see also alternative pleading at pleading sense 1b

3

: existing or functioning outside the established system

also

: different from the usual or conventional

alternative sentencing

alternative

2 of 2

noun

1

: a proposition or situation offering a choice between two or more things only one of which may be chosen

2

a

: one of two or more things, courses, or propositions to be chosen

b

: something which can be chosen instead

More from Merriam-Webster on alternative

Nglish: Translation of alternative for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of alternative for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alternative

Last Updated:

12 Mar 2024

- Updated example sentences

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Merriam-Webster unabridged

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Play

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Play

Word of the Day

ulterior

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

'Arsy-Varsy,' and Other Snappy Reduplicatives

The Words of the Week - Mar. 8

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels

12 More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

8 Uncommon Words Related to Love

See All

Games & Quizzes

See All

Quordle

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Blossom Word Game

You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!

Play

Missing Letter

A crossword with a twist

Play

Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...

Take the quiz

Merriam Webster

Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!

Help

About Us

Advertising Info

Contact Us

Diversity

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

© 2024 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Just a moment...

ALTERNATIVELY Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

ALTERNATIVELY Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com

GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipsalternatively[ awl-tur-nuh-tiv-lee, al- ]show ipaSee synonyms for alternatively on Thesaurus.comadverbas another choice or option:At the end of the unit, each group of students writes a book review or, alternatively, acts out a short scene from the book.in a nonstandard, novel, or unconventional manner or style:We found significant differences between the traditionally and alternatively certified teachers with regard to classroom experience.You are not automatically more creative just because you're in an alternatively decorated meeting room.Origin of alternatively1alternative + -ly Other words from alternativelyqua·si-al·ter·na·tive·ly, adverbWords Nearby alternativelyalternative energyalternative fuelalternative historyalternative hypothesisAlternative Investment Marketalternativelyalternative medicinealternative pathwayalternative questionalternative schoolalternative societyDictionary.com Unabridged

Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use alternatively in a sentenceThe design, reported in a paper in Nature, is capable of 50 times the performance of state-of-the-art alternative cooling systems, according to the authors.This Microchip Has Its Own Built-In Cooling System | Edd Gent | September 14, 2020 | Singularity Hub The U-T reports that officials are expected this week to talk about alternative policing models, including unarmed personnel who can respond to non-emergency situations.Morning Report: Oceanside Reboots Top Cop Search | Voice of San Diego | September 14, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoApps that offer person-to-person experiences, like tutoring or telehealth, can also use alternative methods of payment beyond in-app purchases.Apple revises App Store rules to permit game streaming apps, clarify in-app purchases and more | Sarah Perez | September 11, 2020 | TechCrunchCompanies outside China may now feel pressure to reshore manufacturing to home countries or find more suitable low-cost alternatives in Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Americas.COVID proves that companies need to reduce their dependence on China | matthewheimer | September 11, 2020 | FortuneThe alternative is that they would sit in a hospital beyond medical necessity.Hundreds of Children Are Stuck in Psychiatric Hospitals Each Year Despite the State’s Promises to Find Them Homes | by Duaa Eldeib | September 11, 2020 | ProPublicaSudden peace, buoyancy, contentment, or alternatively sorrow or physical pain.Knocking on Heaven's Door: True Stories of Unexplained, Uncanny Experiences at the Hour of Death | Patricia Pearson | August 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTalternatively, there is an informal proposal to set up a special inquiry into atrocities in Syria.U.S.: Assad’s ‘Machinery of Death’ Worst Since the Nazis | Josh Rogin | July 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOr, alternatively, we could run away scot-free down Fifth Avenue and pause now and then to inseminate someone.The Ridiculousness of Father's Day | P. J. O’Rourke | June 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTOr, alternatively, why should we think that the way the state has currently determined that question is the correct one?How Cliven Bundy and the Land Rights Movement Screws Native Americans | Caitlin Dickson | May 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTalternatively, Paul could just coast to an easy senate reelection and enjoy life on the 2016 sidelines.President or Senator? Pick One, Rand Paul | Myra Adams | March 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTalternatively mesta—curds; the usual form of dairy produce hereabouts—identical with Jaels Butter in a lordly dish.The Cradle of Mankind | W.A. WigramEllan or Hellan was alternatively entitled Hellas, and in Greek the word allos meant “the one”.Archaic England | Harold BayleyThere is not a Day but some Assembly is held here at one House or another alternatively.The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume II | Karl Ludwig von PllnitzThe name of the fat lad, known alternatively as Nick/Buster, and Bumpus, has been retained as in the original.Motor Boat Boys' River Chase | Louis ArundelIt was alternatively destroyed and rebuilt several times till its last reconstruction in 1853.Historic Paris | Jetta S. WolffSee More ExamplesBrowse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzAboutCareersShopContact usAdvertise with usCookies, terms, & privacyDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.My account© 2024 Dictionary.com, LLC

Just a moment...

alternatively adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

alternatively adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Toggle navigation

Redeem

Upgrade

Help

Sign in

Dictionaries

Dictionaries home

English

American English

Academic

Collocations

German-English

Grammar

Grammar home

Practical English Usage

Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)

Word Lists

Word Lists home

My Word Lists

Topics

Recent additions

Resources

Resources home

Text Checker

Sign in

Dictionaries

Dictionaries home

English

American English

Academic

Collocations

German-English

Grammar

Grammar home

Practical English Usage

Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta)

Word Lists

Word Lists home

My Word Lists

Topics

Recent additions

Resources

Resources home

Text Checker

Redeem

Upgrade

Help

TOP

English

English

American English

Academic English

Collocations

Practical English Usage

German-English

English-German

English

American English

Enter search text

Definition of alternatively adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

alternatively adverbOPAL W  /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪvli/  /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪvli/

jump to other results

used to introduce a suggestion that is a second choice or possibilityThe agency will make travel arrangements for you. Alternatively, you can organize your own transport.Topics Preferences and decisionsb2, Suggestions and adviceb2

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

See alternatively in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee alternatively in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:

alternatively

Nearby words

alternative energy noun

alternative fuel noun

alternatively adverb

alternative medicine noun

alternative rock noun

boost

verb

From the Topic

Change, cause and effect

B2

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

Browse Dictionaries & Grammar

Search Box

System Requirements

Contact Us

More from us

Oxford Learner's Dictionaries API

English Language Teaching

Oxford Teacher's Club

Oxford Learner's Bookshelf

Oxford Languages

Who we are

About Us

Our history

Annual report

The way we work

Working for OUP

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Consent Management

Terms & Conditions

Accessibility

Legal Notice

English (UK)

English (US)

© 2024 Oxford University Press

Just a moment...

alternatively - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

alternatively - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

WordReference.com | Online Language Dictionaries

English Dictionary

| alternatively

×

English definition

English synonyms

English-Spanish

English-French

English-Italian

Spanish-English

French-English

Italian-English

Spanish-French

French-Spanish

Spanish-Portuguese

Portuguese-Spanish

Español: definición

Español: sinónimos

Español: gramática

Català: definició

more...

Forums

See Also:

alternative conjunction

alternative curriculum

alternative energy

alternative hypothesis

Alternative Investment Market

alternative medicine

alternative question

alternative school

alternative society

Alternative Vote

alternator

Altgeld

Althaea

althaea

althea

Althing

altho

althorn

Althorp House

although

Althusser

Recent searches:

View All

alternatively

[links]

Listen:

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪvli/

ⓘ One or more forum threads is an exact match of your searched term

in Spanish |

in French |

English synonyms |

English Collocations |

English Usage |

Conjugator |

in context |

images

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024al•ter•na•tive /ɔlˈtɜrnətɪv, æl-/USA pronunciation  

n. [countable]

a choice limited to one option among two or more possibilities:You have the alternative of riding, walking, or biking.

a choice among only two possibilities such that if one is chosen, the other cannot be chosen:Here are the alternatives: surrender or die.

one of these choices:The alternative to riding is walking.

adj. [before a noun] allowing for a choice between two or more things:an alternative plan.

being different from the usual:alternative lifestyles; alternative energy sources.

al•ter•na•tive•ly, adv. See -alte-.

See choice.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024al•ter•na•tive 

(ôl tûr′nə tiv, al-),USA pronunciation n. 

a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility:You have the alternative of riding or walking.

one of the things, propositions, or courses of action that can be chosen:The alternative to riding is walking.

a possible or remaining course or choice:There was no alternative but to walk.

adj.  affording a choice of two or more things, propositions, or courses of action.

(of two things, propositions, or courses) mutually exclusive so that if one is chosen the other must be rejected:The alternative possibilities are neutrality and war.

employing or following nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.; existing outside the establishment:an alternative newspaper; alternative lifestyles.

Philosophy[Logic.](of a proposition) asserting two or more choices, at least one of which is true.Also, alternate (for defs. 1–4, 6).

alternate + -ive 1580–90

al•ter′na•tive•ly, adv. 

al•ter′na•tive•ness, al•ter′na•tiv′i•ty, n. 

1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged . option, selection. See choice. 

'alternatively' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

aleph

- andante

- gallop

- inequality

- stove

Collocations: alternatively, we [could, may, might], alternatively, we [could] [try, go, do], alternatively, please [follow, change, select, call], more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "alternatively" in the title:alternately - alternatively

alternately or alternatively

alternatively = or ?

Alternatively it is painted as a company ...?

alternatively or alternately ?

alternatively or as the case may be

alternatively, you could say/write

alternatively/alternately

The use of "alternatively"

Turn by turn or by turns or alternatively

You can bring .., alternatively, you can....

Visit the English Only Forum.Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself.

Look up "alternatively" at Merriam-Webster

Look up "alternatively" at dictionary.com

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Links:

⚙️Preferences |

Abbreviations |

Pron. Symbols |

Privacy Policy |

Terms of Service |

Support WR |

Forums |

Suggestions

Advertisements

Advertisements

Report an inappropriate ad.

WordReference.com

WORD OF THE DAY

GET THE DAILY EMAIL!

Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.

Copyright © 2024 WordReference.com

Please report any problems.

×

Alternately Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Alternately Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Menu Toggle

Merriam-Webster Logo

Games & Quizzes

Games & Quizzes

Word of the Day

Grammar

Wordplay

Word Finder

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Settings

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

More

Thesaurus

Join MWU

Shop

Books

Merch

Log In

Username

My Words

Recents

Account

Log Out

Est. 1828

Dictionary

Definition

Definition

Example Sentences

Word History

Entries Near

Cite this EntryCitation

Share

More from M-W

Show more

Show more

Citation

Share

More from M-W

Save Word

To save this word, you'll need to log in.

Log In

alternately

adverb

al·​ter·​nate·​ly

US and Canadian ˈȯl-tər-nət-lē 

 also  ˈal-;

 chiefly British  ȯl-ˈtər-

Synonyms of alternately

1

: by turns one after the other

His heart rate was 175, his blood pressure alternately spiking and falling.—Stephen King As the gravitational waves passed Earth, they would alternately compress and expand the space between two objects.—Neil deGrasse Tyson et al. The rest of the day I spent alternately pacing the length of the train … or looking out the windows.—Rick Riordan

2

: as an alternative

—used to introduce a different possibility from what has been previously suggested or describedFrom then on, you can take out almost $10,000 a year and annuitize $160,000 after at least ten years. Alternately, you can make no withdrawals and let your guaranteed base grow by 6 percent a year.—Kerry PechterThe club was originally known as Fontana Bar (or, alternately, Fontana Lounge and Fontana Room) from Bellagio's opening until it shifted to Hyde in December 2011.—John KatsilometesYou could be in for a pretty remarkable experience—or, alternately, one of the most miserable and terrifying nights of your life.—Drew Schwartz

Examples of alternately in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the course of 10 years, she was alternately found competent and then incompetent to stand trial in court.

—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024

Over an hour and a half, Rodrigo alternately roared and pleaded, stomped and collapsed.

—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024

Add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating on low speed until just combined.

—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024

The messy pace — alternately defiant, maudlin, weepy and bombastic — sounds like a country that was working things out within itself but nevertheless remained optimistic and confident about its future.

—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024

The Lakers alternately attacked the basket or hit 3s in the third.

—Beth Harris, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024

The audience crowded around the musician’s setup just in front of the stage, as people alternately took pictures and danced.

Korine, wearing a fluorescent mask that covered most of his head and face, made his way through the room.

—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024

Over the course of a roller-coaster relationship, in which booze alternately ignites and smothers their romantic flame, the couple get married, raise a daughter, drift apart, collide again and take stutter steps toward recovery.

—Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024

Each brings the precision, finesse and freewheeling spirit that underpins Oh’s alternately spacious and knotty compositions.

—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Jan. 2024

See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alternately.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of alternately was

in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Dictionary Entries Near alternately

alternate history

alternately

alternate proportion

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

Style

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster

“Alternately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternately. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Post the Definition of alternately to Facebook

Facebook

Share the Definition of alternately on Twitter

Twitter

More from Merriam-Webster on alternately

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for alternately

Nglish: Translation of alternately for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of alternately for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated:

8 Mar 2024

- Updated example sentences

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Merriam-Webster unabridged

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Play

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Play

Word of the Day

ulterior

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

8 Grammar Terms You Used to Know, But Forgot

Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

'Arsy-Varsy,' and Other Snappy Reduplicatives

The Words of the Week - Mar. 8

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels

12 More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

8 Uncommon Words Related to Love

See All

Games & Quizzes

See All

Quordle

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Play

Blossom Word Game

You can make only 12 words. Pick the best ones!

Play

Missing Letter

A crossword with a twist

Play

Spelling Bee Quiz

Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...

Take the quiz

Merriam Webster

Learn a new word every day. Delivered to your inbox!

Help

About Us

Advertising Info

Contact Us

Diversity

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

© 2024 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated