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.

Origin: from ine + stede.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Instead(adverb)

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

2. Instead(adverb)

   equivalent; equal to; -- usually with of

Origin: [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

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. Josh Groban:

   Instead of telling us to leave.

2. Elbert Hubbard:

   Live truth instead of professing it.

3. Jordan Matson:

   Here, instead, everything makes sense.

4. Almin Karamehmedovic:

   Instead, she is more like a pornographer.

5. Debbie Greene:

   Maybe a' sad' button instead of' Dislike.

Images & Illustrations of instead

Popularity rank by frequency of use