What does "alt" mean?
Of a voice or instrument, high pitch; especially, the octave above the top line of the treble stave.
Alt
/ɔːlt/ adj, name, noun, verb
adj, name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Of a voice or instrument, high pitch; especially, the octave above the top line of the treble stave.
- Grammar: alt is listed as adj, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: altitude, elevation, alternate, alternate account.
- Useful contrasts: default, german frisch, ground level.
- Usage evidence: Please push the Ctrl+Alt+Del key to log on the system.
How to use "alt"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "alt" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "alt" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "alt" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "alt" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "alt" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "altitude" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "alt", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Of a voice or instrument, high pitch; especially, the octave above the top line of the treble stave. uncountable
"Sop[hy] Moderato! moderato! Madam. Your Ladyship's absolutely in alt. / L[ady] Scr[ape] In alt! Madam? / Sop[hy] Yes, in alt- Give me leave to tell your Ladyship, that you have raised your voice a full octave higher since you came into the room."
- 2 Clipping of altitude. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping
- 3 Synonym of altbier.
"Top-fermenting ales are still brewed, notably the alts of Düsseldorf and kölsches of Cologne."
- 4 A modifier key used to change (alternate) the function of other pressed keys.
- 5 Initialism of alanine transaminase. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
"Furthermore, wedelolactone also increased the activities of superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the level of the lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver, therefore decreasing the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)."
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object) wordnet
- 7 A state of excitement, a heightened emotional condition. archaic, uncountable
"I was, however, glad at my heart, that Mrs. Moore came up so seasonably with notice, that dinner was ready. The fair fugitive was all in alt. She had the game in her own hands; and by giving me so good an excuse for withdrawing, I had time to strengthen myself; the Captain had time to come; and the Lady to cool."
- 8 An alternate or secondary account. Internet
"Of these alts, how many of them are a gender other than your own?"
- 9 An alternate account. Internet
"You've been here four days and you already know about the incident from last year? You're such an obvious alt."
- 10 An alternative investment or alternative fund.
"liquid alts"
- 11 An alternate version of a piece of art, especially without much changes beyond a specific thing. Internet
- 12 Ellipsis of alt text. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Verb
- 1 To use an alternate or secondary account. Internet, intransitive
"I got banned so I'm alting."
Adjective
- 1 Clipping of alternate. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, not-comparable
"alt key"
- 2 Clipping of alternative, especially as a cultural phenomenon seen as being outside the mainstream of its genre. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, not-comparable
"alt medicine"
Proper Noun
- 1 A river in West Lancashire and Merseyside, England that flows into the Irish Sea; in full, the River Alt.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Please push the Ctrl+Alt+Del key to log on the system."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "alt"?
Common synonyms include: altitude, elevation, alternate, alternate account, alternative, backup.
How do you use "alt" in a sentence?
Please push the Ctrl+Alt+Del key to log on the system.
How do you pronounce "alt"?
Pronounced /ɔːlt/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin altus (“high”). Doublet of old and alto.
Etymology 2
Abbreviations.
Etymology 3
From German Alt.
Etymology 4
Abbreviation of alternate or alternative.