1
: as a substitute or equivalent
was going to write but called instead
2
: as an alternative to something expressed or implied : rather
longed instead for a quiet country life
Examples of instead in a Sentence
I was offered a ride, but I chose to walk instead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Detectives kept it to themselves, instead the LAPD let the suspects think that investigators had fallen for what police perceived to be a trick.
—
Greg Fisher, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
Her approach extends beyond immediate intervention, focusing instead on helping parents and caregivers recognize and manage their own emotions, in order to create safe spaces where children can learn and grow.
—Lauren Carpenter, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
But then Johnson instead fought those efforts, Ethics Committee Chair Ald.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
With his ship now loaded well beyond its normal capacity, the Carpathia’s captain didn’t concern himself with the bodies of the dead but instead set a course for New York City.
—Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instead
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Greg Fisher, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2025
Her approach extends beyond immediate intervention, focusing instead on helping parents and caregivers recognize and manage their own emotions, in order to create safe spaces where children can learn and grow.
—Lauren Carpenter, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
But then Johnson instead fought those efforts, Ethics Committee Chair Ald.
—Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
With his ship now loaded well beyond its normal capacity, the Carpathia’s captain didn’t concern himself with the bodies of the dead but instead set a course for New York City.
—Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instead
Cite this Entry
“Instead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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instead
adverb
in·stead
in-ˈsted 
: as a substitute
was going to write but called instead
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