instead
UK: ɪnˈstɛd | US: ɪnˈstɛd
adv. as a substitute or replacement
adv. in preference; as an alternative
The word "instead" originates from Middle English "in stede," where "in" means "into" and "stead" means "place." It originally conveyed the idea of "in the place of" something or someone. Over time, it evolved to express substitution or preference, retaining its core logic of replacement. The morpheme "stead" itself comes from Old English "stede," meaning a fixed location, which is also seen in words like "homestead" or "steadfast."
She chose tea instead of coffee this morning.
If the shirt is unavailable, we can offer a refund instead.
He decided to walk instead of taking the bus.
They used honey instead of sugar in the recipe.
The meeting was canceled, so we worked remotely instead.