English
substitute
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /ˈsʌbstɪtut/, /ˈsʌbstɪtjut/
Verb

substitute (substitutes, present participle substituting; past and past participle substituted)

  1. (transitive) To use in place of something else, with the same function.
    I had no shallots so I substituted onion.
  2. (transitive, in the phrase "substitute X for Y") To use X in place of Y.
    I had to substitute new parts for the old ones.
  3. (transitive, formerly proscribed, in the phrase "substitute X with/by Y") To use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y.
    I had to substitute old parts with the new ones.
  4. (transitive, sports) To remove (a player) from the field of play and bring on another in his place.
    He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes
  5. (intransitive) To serve as a replacement (for someone or something).
    • 1987, James Tobin, Essays in Economics, Vol. 2, p. 75
      Accumulation of wealth by this route may substitute for personal saving.
Synonyms Translations Noun

substitute (plural substitutes)

  1. A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.
    • Ladies [in Shakespeare's age] […] wore masks as the sole substitute known to our ancestors for the modern parasol.
  2. (sports) A player who is available to replace another if the need arises, and who may or may not actually do so.
  3. (historical) One who enlists for military service in the place of a conscript.
  4. (economics) Abbreviation of substitute good#English|substitute good.
Synonyms Translations Translations

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