Alternative
noun / adjective
Definition
1. A choice or option that is different from the usual or first one.
2. Another possibility.
3. (adjective): different from what is traditional, usual, or mainstream.
2. Another possibility.
3. (adjective): different from what is traditional, usual, or mainstream.
Context Alive
When the restaurant she had chosen turned out to be fully booked, she quickly searched for an alternative on her phone, finding a nearby Italian place with availability that actually received better reviews and offered a more intimate atmosphere than her original choice.
Meanings
4 meanings 1 Another choice or option (Noun) Very Common ▼
This is how we use alternative most often in daily life. You know when your first plan doesn’t work and you need a backup option? That’s an alternative, a different choice you can make instead. For example, if the store doesn’t have your preferred brand of coffee, you look for an alternative that might work just as well. The word suggests having multiple possibilities rather than just one fixed path.
Vivid ExampleWhen the flight was cancelled due to weather, the airline offered passengers two alternatives: a full refund with no penalties, or rebooking on tomorrow’s morning flight with a hotel voucher and meal compensation included.
2 Different from traditional or mainstream (Adjective) Very Common ▼
When something is described as alternative, it means it’s different from the conventional or standard approach, often in a creative or unconventional way. For instance, alternative medicine refers to treatments outside traditional Western medicine, like acupuncture or herbal remedies. You might hear about alternative music (rock that’s not mainstream pop), alternative energy (solar or wind instead of fossil fuels), or alternative lifestyles that don’t follow typical patterns.
Vivid ExampleThe school introduced an alternative education program where students learned through hands-on projects instead of traditional lectures, spending their mornings in workshops building furniture and their afternoons discussing the math and physics principles behind their creations.
3 Substitute or replacement (Noun) Common ▼
An alternative can be something you use instead of the original when the first choice isn’t available, suitable, or desirable. People with dietary restrictions often look for alternatives—like almond milk as an alternative to dairy milk, or honey as an alternative to sugar. This meaning emphasizes the replacement function rather than just having multiple equal choices.
Vivid ExampleSince the recipe called for butter but she had run out, she used olive oil as an alternative, adjusting the amount slightly and discovering that the cookies turned out even more flavorful with a hint of fruity richness she hadn’t expected.
4 The other of two possibilities (Noun) Common ▼
When you face a decision between two clear paths, each one is the alternative to the other. This meaning appears often in formal or serious contexts where choices have significant consequences. A company might say “The alternative to raising prices is cutting staff,” presenting two stark options with no middle ground.
Vivid ExampleThe doctor explained that surgery would remove the problem immediately, but the alternative—managing the condition through medication and lifestyle changes—would require patience and discipline over several months while avoiding the risks that came with an operation.
Examples from the Street
“Is there an alternative to surgery?”
is there a different option instead of operating?
“She’s into alternative medicine”
she prefers non-traditional medical treatments like herbs and acupuncture
“We need an alternative plan in case this fails”
we need a backup option if this doesn’t work
Common Patterns
an alternative to + noun → a different option instead of something
have no alternative (but to) → have no other choice
offer/provide an alternative → give another option
look for/seek alternatives → search for different options
the only alternative → the single other option available
alternative + noun (plan/route/method/approach) → a different version of something
alternative medicine/therapy → non-conventional medical treatments
alternative energy/fuel → non-traditional power sources (solar, wind)
alternative lifestyle → way of living outside mainstream norms
Collocations
5 collocationsviable alternative
a realistic and practical option
alternative approach
a different way of doing something
no alternative
no other option available
alternative medicine
treatments outside conventional medicine
explore alternatives
consider other possible options
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Coffee is too expensive here — we need to find an alternative to buying it every day
Café beverages cost too much at this location — we must locate a different option instead of purchasing daily.
2
The company is exploring alternative energy sources to reduce costs
The business is investigating non-traditional power options to cut expenses.
3
We had no alternative but to cancel the event due to the storm
We possessed no other choice except abandoning the gathering because of the weather.
4
The doctor suggested alternative therapies like acupuncture for her pain
The physician recommended non-conventional treatments such as needle therapy for her discomfort.
5
Can you provide an alternative if this meeting time doesn’t work?
Are you able to offer a different option if this appointment slot proves inconvenient?
6
They’re developing an alternative plan in case the original fails
They’re creating a backup strategy should the initial approach prove unsuccessful.
7
Public transport is the best alternative to driving in the city
Mass transit represents the optimal substitute for operating vehicles in urban areas.
8
She lives an alternative lifestyle in a commune outside the city
She exists following non-mainstream practices in a collective dwelling beyond urban boundaries.
9
We’re looking for alternatives to plastic packaging
We’re searching for different options instead of synthetic wrapping materials.
10
Resignation was the only alternative available to him
Stepping down represented the sole option accessible to him.
Learner Examples
★
When textbooks are too expensive for students, teachers must find alternatives to traditional materials — online resources and library books can work just as well
When course books prove financially burdensome for learners, instructors must locate substitutes for conventional texts — digital sources and borrowed volumes can prove equally effective.
★
Rote memorization is common in language learning, but we should explore alternative methods like storytelling and conversation practice that engage students more deeply
Repetitive drilling prevails in acquiring new tongues, yet we ought to investigate different approaches, such as narrative techniques and dialogue exercises that involve learners more thoroughly.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items Idioms & Expressionshave no alternative — have no other choice available
We had no alternative but to cancel the event due to the storm.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsoption
a choice available
choice
something you can pick
substitute
a replacement
backup plan
a second option if the first fails
Antonymsonly option
no other choice
original
the first or main version