instead
adverb
in·stead
| \ in-ˈsted
\
\
Definition of instead
1
: as a substitute or equivalent
was going to write but called instead
2
: as an alternative to something expressed or implied : rather
longed instead for a quiet country life
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Examples of instead in a Sentence
I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rather than seeing it as competition, Vaughn sees opportunity to pick up the customers who don't want to wait in long Starbucks lines — or who want to spend their dollars at a local business instead. — Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, "Please & Thank You coffee shops announce Prospect location and mobile ordering app," 11 Sep. 2019 By identifying cells that developed resistance to the drug, known as OTS964, and sequencing them for mutations that confer that trait, the lab showed the drug instead blocks the protein CDK11, which plays a different role in cell proliferation. — Jocelyn Kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Some cancer drugs miss their target. CRISPR could improve their aim," 11 Sep. 2019 These big pieces of zucchini don't lose their identity in the batter and instead remain distinct and tender once cooked. — Bon Appétit, "These Zucchini Fritters Stay Super Crispy Thanks to One Ingredient," 11 Sep. 2019 The bill would require that research labs spare animals from automatic euthanasia and instead use animal rescue organizations to help get the dogs and cats adopted. — USA TODAY, "Animation behind bars, Elliott the elk, SkyStar: News from around our 50 states," 10 Sep. 2019 If the loss cannot be tallied, the amount a perpetrator gained can be used instead. — Los Angeles Times, "In college admissions scandal a judge must decide: Does it matter how much parents paid?," 10 Sep. 2019 Weeks before joining the administration, Bolton wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed arguing for a preemptive strike against North Korea, only for Trump to instead pursue diplomacy with Kim Jong Un. — Bloomberg News, oregonlive, "Donald Trump fires John Bolton after tumultuous tenure," 10 Sep. 2019 But because her usual Hoda & Jenna co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, is out on her own maternity leave, Hoda was instead joined during the fourth hour by fellow Today anchor Natalie Morales and journalist Maria Shriver. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "'Today' Show Fans Speak Out About Maria Shriver Co-Hosting With Hoda Kotb," 6 Sep. 2019 The reigning La Liga champions spent most of the summer seemingly locked in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain in an attempt to re-sign Neymar, but a deal never materialised and PSG instead strengthened by signing Mauro Icardi and Keylor Navas. — SI.com, "Barcelona Rejected Summer Move for Tottenham's Lucas Moura as Possible Neymar Alternative," 5 Sep. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'instead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for instead
instead
adverb
English Language Learners Definition of instead
—used to say that one thing is done or that one thing or person is chosen when another is not chosen, cannot be done, etc. —often + of
See the full definition for instead in the English Language Learners Dictionary
instead
adverb
in·stead
| \ in-ˈsted
\
\
Kids Definition of instead
: as a substitute
I was going to write but called instead.
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