[adverb] in place of, or as an alternative to; "Felix became a herpetologist instead"; "alternatively we could buy a used car" Synonyms:alternatively, as an alternative, or else
[adverb] on the contrary; "rather than disappoint the children, he did two quick tricks before he left"; "he didn't call; rather (or instead), he wrote her a letter"; "used English terms instead of Latin ones" Synonyms:rather
