What does “instead” mean?
- 1
adverbin place of someone or something else
We didn’t take the bus; we walked instead.
Instead at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ɪnˈstɛd/ · in-STED
How to use “instead” correctly
Use “instead of” before a noun or -ing form: “Have tea instead of coffee.” Put “instead” alone at the end of a clause.
Common phrases with “instead”
- instead of sth
- instead of doing sth
“instead” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- actually adverbA2used to say what is really true, often when it is surprising
- else adverbA2in addition to or different from the person, thing or place already mentioned
- especially adverbA2more than usual or more than others; in particular
- even adverbA2used to show that something is surprising or more than expected
- exactly adverbA2completely correct, with no difference at all
- quite adverbA2fairly, more than a little but not very
- also adverbA1in addition; as well
- how adverbA1used to ask about the way something is done or happens