1. Occurring by turns; first one and then the other
   "alternate feelings of love and hate";
   - alternating
    
2. Every second one of a series
   "the cleaning lady comes on alternate Wednesdays"
    
3. Serving or used in place of another
   "an alternate plan";
   - alternative, substitute
    
4. (botany) 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"

1. Do something in turns
   "We alternate on the night shift";
   - take turns
    
2. Go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions
   "His mood alternated between joy and despair";
   - jump
    
3. Exchange people temporarily to fulfil certain jobs and functions
   "The two departments alternated staff members during the busy season"
    
4. Be an understudy or alternate for a role
   "She alternated the lead actress in case of illness";
   - understudy

1. Someone who takes the place of another person
   "The alternate stepped in when the lead actor fell ill";
   - surrogate, replacement

Derived forms: alternates, alternated, alternating

See also: cyclic, cyclical, secondary

Type of: act, alter, backup, change, con [archaic], exchange, fill-in, learn, memorise [Brit], memorize, move, relief, reliever, stand-in, substitute, vary

Antonym: opposite

Encyclopedia: Alternate