adv · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:[ɔːlˈtɜɹnətlɪ]
UK:/ɔlˈtə(ɹ)nətliː/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/ˈɔl.tɚ.nət.li/
CMU ARPABET:AO1 L T ER0 N AH0 T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Driving downtown is restricted to bikes with odd and even license plate numbers alternately by day of the month.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: alternatingly
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is compared with antecedent, and consequent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Topics: mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Alternatively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US, not-comparable, proscribed, sometimes
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
in an alternating sequence or position
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
They were deglycerolized by alternately centrifuging and mixing
he planted fir and pine trees alternately
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English alternate Middle English -ly English -ly English alternately From alternate + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Czech:
střídavě
— succeeding by turns
Danish:
vekselvis
— succeeding by turns
Dutch:
beurtelings
— succeeding by turns
Esperanto:
alterne
— succeeding by turns
French:
alternativement
— succeeding by turns
Georgian:
მონაცვლეობით
(monacvleobit)
— succeeding by turns
Georgian:
მორიგეობით
(morigeobit)
— succeeding by turns
Georgian:
რიგრიგობით
(rigrigobit)
— succeeding by turns
German:
abwechselnd
— succeeding by turns
German:
wechselweise
— succeeding by turns
German:
abwechslungsweise
— succeeding by turns
Hungarian:
felváltva
— succeeding by turns
Italian:
alternatamente
— succeeding by turns
Japanese:
かわるがわるに
(kawaru ga waru ni)
— succeeding by turns
Japanese:
交互に
(kōgo ni)
— succeeding by turns
Latin:
alternātim
— succeeding by turns
Norwegian Bokmål:
vekselvis
— succeeding by turns
Norwegian Nynorsk:
vekselvis
— succeeding by turns
Polish:
naprzemiennie
— succeeding by turns
Polish:
na zmianę
— succeeding by turns
Polish:
przemiennie
— succeeding by turns
Portuguese:
alternadamente
— succeeding by turns
Russian:
поочерёдно
(poočerjódno)
— succeeding by turns
Scottish Gaelic:
mu seach
— succeeding by turns
Spanish:
alternativamente
— succeeding by turns
Spanish:
por turno
— succeeding by turns
Swedish:
växelvis
— succeeding by turns
Swedish:
ömsevis
— succeeding by turns
Ukrainian:
по че́рзі
(po čérzi)
— succeeding by turns
Ukrainian:
почерго́во
(počerhóvo)
— succeeding by turns
