instead
//ɪnˈstɛd//
Definitions
1.In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative.
- I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead.
- ‘It's rather like a beautiful Inverness cloak one has inherited. Much too good to hide away, so one wears it instead of an overcoat and pretends it's an amusing new fashion.’
Frequency
Overall
Common· #981
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From in + stead, from Middle English ine (“in”) + stede (“stead”).
Related to German statt.