adverb · neutral
instead
/ɪnˈsted/in·STED
speakingtask2
used to say that one thing happens or is done in place of another
Examples
“I didn't go out; I stayed home instead.”
“They bought second-hand bikes instead of new ones.”
“Rather than complain, she acted instead.”
Band 8 sentence
“We didn't reduce services; instead, we improved efficiency across departments.”
Collocations
- instead of + noun/verb-ing
- do X instead
- rather than ... instead
Word family
instead of preposition phrase
Common mistakes
I will go to gym instead.→I will go to the gym instead.
Instead of to complain, she wrote a letter.→Instead of complaining, she wrote a letter.
Say it for a higher band
5or→6instead of→7+instead
Synonyms
as an alternative
Easily confused
instead of
“They arrived late instead of on time.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Contrast
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