Definitions for instead
ɪnˈstɛdin·stead

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. alternatively, instead, or else(adverb)

   in place of, or as an alternative to

   "Felix became a herpetologist instead"; "alternatively we could buy a used car"

2. rather, instead(adverb)

   on the contrary

   "rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn't call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used English terms instead of Latin ones"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. instead(Adverb)

   In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative

   I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead.

   Etymology: from ine + stede.

Webster Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Instead(adverb)

   in the place or room; -- usually followed by of

   Etymology: [Pref. in- + stead place.]

2. Instead(adverb)

   equivalent; equal to; -- usually with of

   Etymology: [Pref. in- + stead place.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Instead

   in-sted′, adv. in the stead, place, or room of. [M. E. in stede—A.S. on stede, in the place.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'instead' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1359

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'instead' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2635

3. Adverbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'instead' in Adverbs Frequency: #126

Anagrams for instead »

1. stained

2. sainted

3. detains

How to pronounce instead?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say instead in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of instead in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of instead in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of instead in a Sentence

1. Ed Gardner:

   Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings.

2. Mickey Mehta:

   This summer temperatures will soar high and may kill many birds due to lack of water. PLEASE KEEP A BOWL OF WATER IN YOUR BALCONY , WINDOW OR IN OPEN PLACES and save their lives, instead of shooing them away. Be sensitive to all lives and MickeyMize the ecology. Share this to support life for one and all and evolve.

3. Mr vybs live:

   These days instead of telling the police that robbers are robbing your house....just tell them that criminals are dragging out bags of money. My friend the police will be there in less than 2 minutes.

4. Larry Kramer:

   There's something, to me, cowardly about taking Truvada instead of using a condom, you're taking a drug that is poison to you, and it has lessened your energy to fight, to get involved, to do anything.

5. Hoda Nasralla:

   The judge shied away from directly acquitting Mubarak even though he was accused of conspiring with Adly, and Adly was acquitted, the judge resorted to formalities instead.

Images & Illustrations of instead

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