instead of

preposition
UK: /ɪnˈsted əv/
US: /ɪnˈsted əv/

  1. In place of someone or something.

    1. I had tea instead of coffee. [ ] [ ]
    2. We went to the park instead of staying home, because the weather was great. [ ] [ ]

  2. As an alternative to something else.

    1. Can I pay by card instead of cash? [ ] [ ]
    2. She chose to study art instead of pursuing a career in medicine, which surprised her parents. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

rather than
instead of adverb

  1. Used to indicate a choice or preference.

    1. Let's walk instead of driving. [ ] [ ]
    2. Perhaps we should order pizza instead of cooking tonight, it would be easier. [ ] [ ]
instead of conjunction

  1. As a substitute for something else

    1. He ate an apple instead of a cake. [ ] [ ]
    2. They decided to take the train instead of the bus to avoid traffic. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "instead of" in English means: In place of someone or something., As an alternative to something else..

The phonetic transcription of "instead of" is /ɪnˈsted əv/ in British English and /ɪnˈsted əv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "instead of": rather than.

Example usage of "instead of": "I had tea instead of coffee.". More examples on the page.