Alternation: meaning, definitions and examples

This word can be used the same way as the first entry - referring to a regular and repeated pattern of switching.

• He noticed an alternation in her mood every few hours
• The alternation of light and darkness was mesmerizing

Use this word to talk about differences or changes within a set of items, conditions, or states. It doesn't imply a regular pattern and is often used in scientific or descriptive contexts.

• There is a wide variation in the quality of the products
• The study observed variation in the growth rates of plants under different conditions

This phrase is best used when specifically discussing changes or differences in the shape, structure, or appearance of something, rather than changes in behavior or state.

• The artist explored variation in form in his sculptures
• There is significant variation in form among different species of butterflies

Use 'alternation' when describing a regular, back-and-forth change between two states or things.

• The alternation of night and day sets the rhythm of life on Earth

Use 'variation' to describe a change in the form, position, or state of something, especially when this change happens unpredictably.

• There is a wide variation in the prices of these gadgets

Use 'sequence' when describing a specific order in which events, numbers, or things follow each other.

• The sequence of events led us to this conclusion