How to Use instead of in a Sentence

instead of

preposition
  • These days, most of us press snooze on a phone screen instead of a clock.
    Gwen Rockwood The Rockwood Files, arkansasonline.com, 24 Oct. 2024
  • The moon doesn’t block the sun, and the shadow of the moon cast by the sun lands in space instead of on Earth’s surface.
    Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Expect sand in place of snow and palms instead of pines on this coastal drive.
    Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2023
  • That means winning the group and getting a second-round date with the Italians instead of the Swedes.
    John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
  • The line at the box office was so long that by noon, the arena urged fans to stay at home instead of joining the queue.
    Mary Colurso | McOlurso@al.com, al, 2 Mar. 2023
  • The accused gave the money to trade union leaders instead of the workers.
    Associated Press, Quartz, 3 Mar. 2024
  • Ohtani’s balance in the box gets so out of whack at times that his front foot lands toward the first-base dugout instead of the mound.
    Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2024
  • Why should voters elect you instead of your opponent(s)?
    Woody Clermont, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
  • The bill would give cities and counties control over self-driving cars, instead of the state.
    William Gavin, Quartz, 3 May 2024
  • The color is dark gold instead of the usual creams or pastels.
    Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024
  • The immune system speeds up the growth of skin cells, which pile up instead of sloughing off.
    Cathy Cassata, Health, 22 June 2024
  • Be the one to make a difference instead of sitting on the sideline.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024
  • This time, though, the Panthers finished off their win in overtime instead of waiting for the shootout.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2024
  • If your oven or stovetop is too hot, the nuts will quickly burn instead of slowly toast.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2023
  • Protein style: Your burger is wrapped in hand-leafed lettuce instead of a bun.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2024
  • Bannister deferring to Ada as the mistress of the house instead of Agnes.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 18 Dec. 2023
  • Still, Avila is desperate for a bigger house, one where the kids can be free instead of trying to stay out of the way.
    Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023
  • The brand does note that sometimes the cloth can arrive with a gray background instead of white due to supply shortages.
    Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2023
  • Boho braids, on the other hand, put more emphasis on the braids instead of trying to hide them.
    Annie Blay, Allure, 6 Feb. 2023
  • So, why not try inviting someone out for a relaxed chat instead of braving the next big event?
    Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Aug. 2024
  • And what is democracy, if not the use of our words instead of violence to solve our problems?
    Matt Thompson, SPIN, 7 Feb. 2023
  • The crowd sings along about how working-class Americans are getting screwed over as if the song has been out for four decades instead of four weeks.
    Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2023
  • Brown meat in batches to prevent the cooker from cooling down and steaming the meat instead of browning it.
    Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2023
  • What is the benefit of using a waver instead of a curling wand?
    elle.com, 7 Apr. 2023
  • The concert was a welcome reminder of the things that keep us together instead of tearing us apart.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2024
  • Which means instead of trading McBride to satisfy one trade, the Knicks can now use him as a trade chip in another.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 16 July 2024
  • The government is the entity that steps in and enforces a level playing field instead of a race to the bottom.
    Quartz Staff, Quartz, 30 June 2020
  • Near the dining area is a tatami mat room in which the couple, instead of hosting tea ceremonies, like to share dessert.
    Kurt Soller Josh Robenstone, New York Times, 17 May 2024
  • The organizers opted to focus on long-term efforts to assist Africa instead of giving the money all at once.
    Jade Gomez, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Unlike the brand’s other stand mixers, Professional Series mixers utilize a bowl-lift design instead of a tilt-head design and come with larger bowl capacities ranging from 5 quarts to 7 quarts.
    Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'instead of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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