I. al ‧ ter ‧ na ‧ tive 1 S2 W2 AC /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv $ ɒːlˈtɜːr-, æl-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ alternative ; adverb : ↑ alternatively ; adjective : ↑ alternative ]
1 . [only before noun] an alternative idea, plan etc is different from the one you have and can be used instead
alternative ways/approach/methods etc
alternative approaches to learning
Have you any alternative suggestions?
An alternative route is along the Via Unione.
2 . deliberately different from what is usual, expected, or traditional
alternative music/theatre etc
Tucson’s alternative radio station
sources of alternative energy (=energy produced by the sun, wind etc rather than by gas, coal etc)
tolerance of alternative lifestyles
alternative medicine/therapies (=medical treatment that is not based on the usual western methods)
Acupuncture is widely used by practitioners of alternative medicine.
—alternatively adverb :
You can relax on the beach or alternatively try the bustling town centre.
II. alternative 2 S2 W3 AC BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ alternative ; adverb : ↑ alternatively ; adjective : ↑ alternative ]
something you can choose to do or use instead of something else
alternative to
Is there a viable alternative to the present system?
If payment is not received legal action will be our only alternative.
I had no alternative but to report him to the police.
He quickly assessed what alternatives were open to him.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ a good/attractive alternative
If you don’t want curtains, blinds are a good alternative.
▪ a possible/acceptable/satisfactory alternative
I’m busy tomorrow but Wednesday is a possible alternative.
▪ a real/serious alternative
Co-operation offers the only real alternative.
▪ a viable alternative (=that can work as successfully)
Hydrogen offers a viable alternative to petrol and diesel.
▪ a practical alternative
This treatment represents a practical alternative to surgery.
▪ a cheap alternative
A take-away is a cheap alternative to eating out.
▪ a safe alternative
Will there ever be a safe alternative to nuclear power?
▪ a healthy alternative
Low-fat biscuits are a healthy alternative to cake.
■ verbs
▪ have an alternative
You have a few alternatives to choose from.
▪ offer/provide an alternative
If your first choice is not available, we always have alternatives to offer.
▪ suggest an alternative
Do you have an alternative you can suggest?
▪ seek an alternative
People are seeking alternatives to meat-based dishes.
▪ find an alternative
The program is directed to finding alternatives to oil and natural gas.
■ phrases
▪ have no/little alternative (but to do something)
He had no alternative but to resign.
▪ leave somebody with no alternative (but to do something)
I was left with no alternative but to seek legal advice.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ choice : choice of :
The school seems OK, but there isn’t a great choice of courses.
| have a choice (=be able to choose from several things) :
With her high grades and athletic skill, Celeste had her choice of colleges.
| have no choice but to do something (=to be forced to do something because there is nothing else you can choose) :
Spooner says he had no choice but to file for bankruptcy.
| wide choice (=a lot of things to choose from) :
There is a wide choice of hotels and hostels in the town.
▪ option one of the things that you can choose to do in a particular situation:
He basically has two options: he can have the surgery, or he can give up playing football.
| keep/leave your options open (=delay choosing so that you continue to have several things to choose from) :
I haven’t signed any contracts yet – I want to keep my options open.
▪ alternative one of two or more ways of doing something:
Did you consider other alternatives before you moved in with Lucy?
| alternative to :
There is no practical alternative to our current policy.
| have no alternative (=to not have a choice) :
He says he doesn’t want to see a doctor, but I’m afraid he has no alternative.