English Phrase of the Day

instead of

Definitions

English > English
instead of
1. prep. In lieu of; in place of; rather than.
He walked to school instead of taking the car.
Analysis
instead
1. adv. In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative.
I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead.
of
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion.
2. prep. (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off".
3. prep. (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.).
4. prep. From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.).
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage.

Example Sentences

I mean here, instead of out there.

Instead of biting around the middle and leaving half of it.

Why are you bothering with all these small cases instead of with my actions when I sat near the top of the judicial system?

You mean, instead of using sculpture and trying to make it flesh, use flesh and try to make it stone?

She has been with me through everything since I've known her, she wouldn't let me buy her things, taught me to say what I want to tell her instead of hiding my face while she read notes and viewed my paintings.

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