alternates
Switches back and forth
Alternates functions as both verb and noun around the idea of taking turns or switching back and forth.
To alternate is to occur in succession: The seasons alternate between wet and dry.
Colors or patterns alternate when they repeat in sequence: alternating stripes of red and white.
An alternate is a substitute or backup person: She served as an alternate on the jury.
In American English, alternate often means alternative: an alternate route.
Available courses of action
- variantsDiffering forms of something
- selectionsChosen items from options
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
- picksSelections from options
choices · candidates · contenders · either-or
What takes another's place
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- understudyBackup actor, ready nightly
- fill-inTemporary substitute person
surrogate · proxy · reserve · deputy · relief · double · spare · pinch-hitter
Repeating sequence of events
- rotateTurn about an axis
- carouselRevolving platform with seats
- revolveTurn around center
- shiftMovement or work period
interval · schedule · sequence · round-robin · stagger · relay · succession · periodic
Distinct forms or renditions
- variationsModified versions of something
- variantsDiffering forms of something
- iterationsSuccessive passes through process
- renditionsInterpretive performances of works
adaptations · interpretations · permutations · offshoots · spinoffs · remixes · reworkings · what-ifs
options
Available courses of action
- variantsDiffering forms of something
- selectionsChosen items from options
- possibilitiesThings that may occur
picks · choices · candidates · contenders · either-or
replacement
What takes another's place
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
- understudyBackup actor, ready nightly
fill-in · surrogate · proxy · reserve · deputy · relief · double · spare · pinch-hitter · locum
cycle
Repeating sequence of events
shift · interval · schedule · sequence · round-robin · stagger · relay · succession · periodic · intermittent
versions
Distinct forms or renditions
- variationsModified versions of something
- variantsDiffering forms of something
- iterationsSuccessive passes through process
renditions · adaptations · interpretations · permutations · offshoots · spinoffs · remixes · reworkings · what-ifs · divergent
- athletesathlete, Olympian, champion, swimmers, runner
- substitutessubstitute, subs, replacement, substitutes, stand-in
- roster selectiondraft order, tryout, roster, starting lineup, depth chart
- analog horrorVHS aesthetic, static, emergency broadcast, test patterns, public access TV
- candidatescandidate, candidates, nominee, nominees, contender
- team designationsred team, blue team, first string, second string, varsity
alternatesstarters
Things that initiate
regulars · first-stringers · primaries · first choices · starting lineup
- 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, alternating, alternatives, alternately, alternatively, alternated, alternation, alternator