When you want to have ice cream but you are out and you settle for pudding, this is an example of a situation where you had pudding instead.
Origin of insteadin + stead
- In the place of something previously mentioned; as a substitute or an equivalent: Having planned to drive, we walked instead.
- In preference; as an alternative: yearned instead for a home and family.
Origin of insteadMiddle English in sted of in place of in in ; see in 1. stede place ; see stead . of of ; see of .
in + stead, from Middle English ine (“in”) + stede (“stead”).