Instead Definition & Meaning

  • American
  • British
  • Etymology
  • Examples
  • Synonyms instead American [in-sted] / ɪnˈstɛd /

    adverb

    1. as a substitute or replacement; in the place or stead of someone or something.

      We ordered tea but were served coffee instead.

    2. in preference; as a preferred or accepted alternative.

      The city has its pleasures, but she wished instead for the quiet of country life.

    idioms

    1. instead of, in place of; in lieu of.

      You can use milk instead of cream in this recipe.

    instead British / ɪnˈstɛd /

    adverb

    1. as a replacement, substitute, or alternative

    2. (preposition) in place of or as an alternative to

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Etymology

    Origin of instead

    First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; originally phrase in stead “in place”

    Example Sentences

    Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

    She said some previous innovations had generated "a lot of free positive publicity" - but the risk with AI was that it risked "a lot negative publicity instead".

    From BBC

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    I also tried shortening my days to seven hours instead of 10.

    From MarketWatch

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    “The pattern repeats itself over and over again in market history: when the market prices a business for death, and that business instead manages a slow decline, the returns can be remarkable,” he says.

    From MarketWatch

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    United started providing less guidance than many other airlines, focusing on earnings per share instead of breaking out other metrics like capacity and fuel costs.

    From The Wall Street Journal

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    Food waste is not separated or recycled, but instead is put down the same chute.

    From BBC

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    Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

    Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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