# instead

Pronunciation: say "in-STED" /ɪnˈstɛd/

## Adverb

1. As an alternative or replacement, usually for something already mentioned.
   - Simple: Used to show that one thing happens or is chosen in place of another.
   - _He had planned to drive, but decided to take the train instead._
   - _The meeting was canceled, so the team spent the afternoon planning next quarter instead._

## Origin

Middle English "ine" ("in") and "stede" ("stead," meaning place) together give "in" plus "stead"; German "statt" is related.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/instead (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).