Instead

Pronunciation

• enPR: Ä­n-stÄ›d', IPA: /ɪn.ˈstÉ›d/
• Rhymes: -É›d

Alternative forms

• enstead

Origin

in + stead, from Middle English ine ("in") + stede ("stead").

Full definition of instead

Adverb

1. In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 5, ‘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.’
• 2013-06-28, Joris Luyendijk, Our banks are out of control, Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic ….  Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. …  But the scandals kept coming, …. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches.
2. I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead.

Synonyms

• in lieu of

Derived terms

• instead of

Anagrams

• detains
• sainted
• stained