alternate

(noun) someone who takes the place of another person. Synonyms: surrogate, replacement.

(verb) go back and forth; swing back and forth between two states or conditions. Synonyms: jump.

(verb) exchange people temporarily to fulfill certain jobs and functions.

(verb) be an understudy or alternate for a role. Synonyms: understudy.

(verb) reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action). Synonyms: interchange, tack, switch, flip, flip-flop.

(verb) do something in turns. Synonyms: take turns. Example: "We take turns on the night shift."

(adj) every second one of a series. Synonyms: alternate(prenominal). Examples: "The cleaning lady comes on alternate wednesdays." "Jam every other day"- the white queen."

(adj) serving or used in place of another. Synonyms: alternative, substitute. Example: "An alternative plan."

(adj) occurring by turns; first one and then the other. Synonyms: alternate(prenominal), alternating(prenominal). Example: "Alternating feelings of love and hate."

(adj) of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired. Synonyms: alternate (vs. opposite). Example: "Stems with alternate leaves."