substitute
SUHB-stih-choot
Substitute (verb) means to use one thing or person in place of another. Example: “If you have no butter, you can substitute margarine in most cakes.”
verb
1
To use one thing or person in place of another.
"If you have no butter, you can substitute margarine in most cakes."
"You can substitute honey for sugar in this recipe."
"The coach substituted a fresh striker for the tired one."
noun
1
A person or thing used in place of another.
"Soya milk is a popular substitute for cow's milk in coffee."
"Nothing is a substitute for a good night's sleep before an exam."
"The teacher was out sick, so a substitute took the class."
How to use substitute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stand-in — something or someone that takes the place of another.
Memory tip
The pattern is "substitute X for Y," meaning you put X in place of Y — it's easy to get the order backwards.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
substitute teacher
substitute for
adequate substitute
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- substitutes
- Past tense
- substituted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
If you have no butter, you can _____ margarine in most cakes.
Etymology
From Latin substitutus, past participle of substituere, from sub- ("in place of") plus statuere ("to set up").
Synonyms
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replacement
stand-in
alternative
fill-in
surrogate
proxy
deputize
interchange
deputise
replace
exchange
reliever
Related words
Rhymes for substitute
See all rhymes for substitute →Frequently asked questions
What does “substitute” mean?
The word “substitute” means to use one thing or person in place of another. In plain terms, a stand-in — something or someone that takes the place of another.
How do you pronounce “substitute”?
“Substitute” is pronounced SUHB-stih-choot (/ˈsʌb.stɪ.tʃuːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “substitute” in a sentence?
Here is “substitute” used in a sentence: “You can substitute honey for sugar in this recipe.”
What is another word for “substitute”?
Words with a similar meaning to “substitute” include swap.
What part of speech is “substitute”?
Depending on how it is used, “substitute” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “substitute” come from?
The word “substitute” comes from Latin. From Latin substitutus, past participle of substituere, from sub- ("in place of") plus statuere ("to set up").
Is “substitute” a common word?
“Substitute” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “substitute” have?
“Substitute” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to use one thing or person in place of another.
What is the difference between "substitute" and "replace"?
To "replace" usually means to remove something permanently and put a new thing in its place, while to "substitute" often implies a temporary or interchangeable swap. You substitute one ingredient for another in a recipe, but you replace a broken part.
Do you say "substitute for" or "substitute with"?
In careful usage you substitute one thing for another, where the new item takes the old one's place, as in "substitute margarine for butter." "Substitute with" is increasingly common in speech but is traditionally considered less precise.
What is the difference between a "substitute" and a "replacement"?
A "substitute" is often a temporary or alternative stand-in, such as a substitute teacher who fills in for the day, whereas a "replacement" usually implies a more permanent successor. Both refer to a person or thing used in place of another.
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