instead of
Use Instead of in a sentence
adverb
Idioms 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.
3.
instead of, in place of; in lieu of: You can use milk instead of cream in this recipe.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English; orig. phrase in stead in place
1175–1225; Middle English; orig. phrase in stead in place
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To instead of
Collins
World English Dictionary
instead (ɪnˈstɛd) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adv | |
| 1. | as a replacement, substitute, or alternative |
| 2. | (preposition) instead of in place of or as an alternative to |
| [C13: from phrase in stead in place] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Instead of
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
instead
1590s, from M.E. ine stede (early 13c.; see stead); still often two words until after c.1640. A loan-translation of L. in loco (Fr. en lieu de).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
instead of
Also, in lieu of; in place of; in someone's stead. In substitution for, rather than. For example, She wore a dress instead of slacks, or They had a soprano in lieu of a tenor, or In place of soft drinks they served fruit juice, or The chairman spoke in her stead. Instead of dates from about 1200; in lieu of, which borrows lieu, meaning "place," from French, dates from the late 1200s; in place of dates from the 1500s; and in someone's stead from the 1200s. Also see under in someone's shoes.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences
He imagines that government spending, using newly printed money instead of debt, is one way this could occur.
But really strong waves might end up cooking the brain's tissue instead of judiciously loosening a blood vessel wall.
Step one had been convincing people to vote for him instead of his opponent.
Instead of low-growing, dark-leaved annuals for pots.
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