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alternatives

al·ter·na·tive
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [awl-tur-nuh-tiv, al-]
    • /ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv, æl-/
    • /ɒlˈtɜː.nə.tɪv/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [awl-tur-nuh-tiv, al-]
    • /ɔlˈtɜr nə tɪv, æl-/

Definitions of alternatives word

  • noun alternatives a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility: You have the alternative of riding or walking. 1
  • noun alternatives one of the things, propositions, or courses of action that can be chosen: The alternative to riding is walking. 1
  • noun alternatives a possible or remaining course or choice: There was no alternative but to walk. 1
  • adjective alternatives affording a choice of two or more things, propositions, or courses of action. 1
  • adjective alternatives (of two things, propositions, or courses) mutually exclusive so that if one is chosen the other must be rejected: The alternative possibilities are neutrality and war. 1
  • adjective alternatives employing or following nontraditional or unconventional ideas, methods, etc.; existing outside the establishment: an alternative newspaper; alternative lifestyles. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of alternatives

First appearance:

before 1580
One of the 35% oldest English words
First recorded in 1580-90; alternate + -ive

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Alternatives

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

alternatives popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

alternatives usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for alternatives

noun alternatives

  • changes — to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone: to change one's name; to change one's opinion; to change the course of history.
  • subs — a submarine.
  • choices — an act or instance of choosing; selection: Her choice of a computer was made after months of research. His parents were not happy with his choice of friends.

adjective alternatives

  • alternates — Plural form of alternate.
  • seconds — next after the first; being the ordinal number for two.

Antonyms for alternatives

noun alternatives

  • constraints — limitation or restriction.
  • necessities — something necessary or indispensable: food, shelter, and other necessities of life.

Top questions with alternatives

  • to whom it may concern alternatives?
  • what are alternatives?

See also

Matching words

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