alternate
Switch back and forth
Alternate can be an adjective or noun (unstressed vowel in the last syllable) or a verb (long vowel in the last syllable).
When two things alternate, they take turns.
An alternate is someone who alternates with or substitutes for another, or something used or regarded as a second choice; in other words, an alternative: We took an alternate route to avoid the roadwork.
A second meaning of the adjective is every other or alternating: The housekeeper comes on alternate Tuesdays.
Turn about an axis
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
- switchCircuit-breaking toggle device
- turnRotational movement
- revolveTurn around center
pivot · swap · trade · flip · exchange · shift · oscillate · toggle
What takes another's place
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- surrogateOne acting for another
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
understudy · deputy · proxy · reserve · second · locum · relief · double
Available course of action
- otherDistinct from those mentioned
- differentNot the same
- secondUnit smaller than minute
- plan BAlternative when primary fails
fallback · contingency · possibility · either-or · pick · selection · fork · branch
Parallel linear markings
- checkerboardAlternating square pattern
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
- bandsMusical performing groups
- rowsSide-by-side sequences
intervals · staggered · interleaved · every other · spacing · rhythm · sequence · repetition
rotate
Turn about an axis
revolve · pivot · swap · trade · flip · exchange · shift · oscillate · toggle · reciprocate
replacement
What takes another's place
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- surrogateOne acting for another
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
fill-in · understudy · deputy · proxy · reserve · second · locum · relief · double · pinch-hitter
option
Available course of action
plan B · fallback · contingency · possibility · either-or · pick · selection · fork · branch · divergence
stripes
Parallel linear markings
- checkerboardAlternating square pattern
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
- bandsMusical performing groups
rows · intervals · staggered · interleaved · every other · spacing · rhythm · sequence · repetition · regularity
AC
Electrical current or cooling
- currentDirected flow of charge
- oscillatingSwinging back and forth
- sinusoidalWave-patterned, mathematically regular
frequency · hertz · cycle · phase · polarity · reversal · grid · power · generator · inverter
different
Not the same
- otherDistinct from those mentioned
- varyingChanging in degree
- contrastingShowing striking differences
diverse · divergent · distinct · disparate · modified · changed · deviation · variant · version · iteration
- homographsbass, bow, close, compound, conduct
- representativesrepresentative, delegate, lawyer, deputy, rep
- scenariosbest-case, worst-case, hypothetical, what-if, best case
- secondarysecondary, second fiddle, second string, second choice, second place
- jurorsjuror, foreman, foreperson, jury foreman, jury foreperson
- curling rolesskip, third, second, lead, sweeper
alternateconsecutive
Following in unbroken sequence
continuous · sequential · successive · unbroken · uninterrupted
- no alternativeSole available course
- alternative routeSecondary path available
- alternate routeSecondary path to destination
- alternate universeHypothetical divergent reality
- alternate realityHypothetical different version of existence
- alternative universeHypothetical divergent reality
alternative, alternate juror, alternating, alternatives, alternates, alternately, alternatively, alternated, alternation