instead

[ in-sted ]

adverb

1. as a substitute or replacement; in the place or stead of someone or something:

   We ordered tea but were served coffee instead.

2. in preference; as a preferred or accepted alternative:

   The city has its pleasures, but she wished instead for the quiet of country life.

instead

/ ɪnˈstɛd /

adverb

1. as a replacement, substitute, or alternative
2. instead of
   preposition in place of or as an alternative to

Word History and Origins

Origin of instead¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; originally phrase in stead “in place”

Word History and Origins

Origin of instead¹

C13: from phrase in stead in place

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. instead of, in place of; in lieu of:

   You can use milk instead of cream in this recipe.

Example Sentences

Forage isn’t selling an internship replacement, but instead comes in one degree before the recruitment process.

From TechCrunch

Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy instead made the console available a few hours after Sony's game showcase on Wednesday.

From Ars Technica

A credible party, Microsoft, emerges, but instead, a non-consumer company, Oracle, whose top executives are tight with the president, becomes a prospective “technology partner,” but not a buyer, of TikTok.

From Fortune

Lincoln High, though, canceled calculus and put Zora Williams in a ceramics class instead.

From Voice of San Diego

There’s only one memory card instead of a pair, which makes sense for an entry-level camera, but isn’t ideal for anyone who might want to do some professional work with it.

From Popular-Science

Instead, straighten your civic backbone and push back in clear conscience.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, the man and woman in the truck wanted to know where the crash site was and whether would I show them.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, spa hotels filled up with over 30,000 refugees from the war-troubled Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

From The Daily Beast

But this year, instead of simply voting against Boehner on Tuesday, at least two members of the group are vying to replace him.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, I spend much of my time criticizing my fellow atheists.

From The Daily Beast

It was like his beautiful courtesy to call me in and introduce me to Blow instead of letting me go away.

From Project Gutenberg

Why he did that, instead of walking around on the shore, Jimmy Rabbit couldn't understand.

From Project Gutenberg

Instead of the expected general amnesty, only a few special pardons were granted.

From Project Gutenberg

We see the whole land, even if but at a distance, instead of being limited merely to the spot where our foot treads.

From Project Gutenberg

But, instead of following up their victory, the half-resolute rioters camped near Guadalupe for the night.

From Project Gutenberg