Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

instead

/ɪnˈstɛd/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.24 in modern English

Syllables: in-stead
IPA: /ɪnˈstɛd/

8

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative.

Example Sentences

"I was going to go shopping, but I went dancing instead."
"‘It's rather like a beautiful Inverness cloak one has inherited. Much too good to hide away, so one wears it instead of an overcoat and pretends it's an amusing new fashion.’"
"Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […]. A broad section of the political class now recognises the need for change but remains unable to see the necessity of a fundamental overhaul. Instead it offers fixes and patches."

Etymology

From in + stead, from Middle English ine (“in”) + stede (“stead”). Related to German statt.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: ine

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪnˈstɛd/
British English: /ɪnˈstɛd/

Inflected Forms

enstead (alternative, obsolete) in steed (alternative, obsolete) in stead (alternative, obsolete) 'nstead (alternative, pronunciation spelling)

Phrases

instead of

Synonyms

in lieu alternatively or else rather

Rhymes With

said read head red lead dead led bed ahead spread ed fed

Questions

How do you pronounce instead?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈstɛd/.
What does instead mean?: In the place of something (usually mentioned earlier); as a substitute or alternative.
Where does instead come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce instead

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “instead”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈstɛd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “instead”.
Repeat and practice — Say “instead” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.