Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adverb
- as a substitute or replacement; in the place or stead of someone or something: We ordered tea but were served coffee instead.
- in preference; as a preferred or accepted alternative: The city has its pleasures, but she wished instead for the quiet of country life.
- instead of, in place of; in lieu of: You can use milk instead of cream in this recipe.
adverb
- as a replacement, substitute, or alternative
- instead of (preposition) in place of or as an alternative to
1590s, from Middle English ine stede (early 13c.; see stead); loan-translation of Latin in loco (French en lieu de). Still often two words until c.1640.
Also, in lieu of; in place of; in someone’s stead. In substitution for, rather than. For example, She wore a dress instead of slacks, or They had a soprano in lieu of a tenor, or In place of soft drinks they served fruit juice, or The chairman spoke in her stead. Instead of dates from about 1200; in lieu of, which borrows lieu, meaning “place,” from French, dates from the late 1200s; in place of dates from the 1500s; and in someone’s stead from the 1200s. Also see under in someone’s shoes.