instead of

preposition

in·​stead of in-ˈste-də(v) How to pronounce instead of (audio)
-ˈsti-
: in place of : as a substitute for or alternative to
chose tea instead of coffee

Examples of instead of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That spacing kept the story alive across multiple news cycles instead of burning it in one announcement week. — Olivia Shalhoup, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 As a result, the Fed’s attention is now fixed on fighting inflation, instead of the other part of its dual mandate, namely supporting the labor market. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 Pack a tube of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) in your first aid kit instead of antibiotic ointment and remember to flush all scrapes and cuts with copious amounts of clean water before covering them with the jelly. — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 So, instead of needing to engage and kill each target in a chain, Spike can take out multiple drones at the same time. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for instead of

Word History

Etymology

Middle English in sted of

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of instead of was in the 13th century

Rhymes for instead of

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Browse Nearby Words

instead
instead of
insteep
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Instead of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/instead%20of. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

instead of

preposition
in-ˌsted-ə(v), 
-ˌstid-
: in place of : as a substitute for
had milk instead of juice
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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