Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense substitutes, present participle substituting, past tense, past participle substituted
1. verb
If you substitute one thing for another, or if one thing substitutesfor another, it takes the place or performs the function of the other thing.
They were substituting violence for dialogue. [VERB noun + for]
You could always substitute a low-fat soft cheese. [VERB noun]
Would phone conversations substitute for cosy chats over lunch or in the pub afterwork? [VERB + for]
He was substituting for the injured William Wales. [VERB + for]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: replace, exchange, swap, change More Synonyms of substitute
substitution (sʌbstɪtjuːʃən, US -tuː-)Word forms: plural substitutionsvariable noun
In my experience a straight substitution of carob for chocolate doesn't work. [+ of]
Both Scotland and Northern Ireland had made last-minute substitutions.
Synonyms: replacement, exchange, switch, swap More Synonyms of substitute
2. countable noun
A substitute is something that you have or use instead of something else.
She is seeking a substitute for the very person whose departure made her cry.
...tests on humans to find a blood substitute made from animal blood.
Synonyms: replacement, reserve, equivalent, surrogate More Synonyms of substitute
3. countable noun [with neg, usually singular]
If you say that one thing is no substitutefor another, you mean that it does not have certain desirable features that the other thing has, and is therefore unsatisfactory. If you say that there is no substitutefor something, you mean that it is the only thing which is really satisfactory.
The printed word is no substitute for personal discussion with a great thinker. [+ for]
There is no substitute for practical experience. [+ for]
4. countable noun
In team games such as football, a substitute is a player who is brought into a match to replace another player.
Coming on as a substitute, he scored four crucial goals.
More Synonyms of substitute
substitute in British English
(ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt)
verb
1. (often foll by for)
to serve or cause to serve in place of another person or thing
2. chemistry
to replace (an atom or group in a molecule) with (another atom or group)
3. logic, mathematics
to replace (one expression) by (another) in the context of a third, as replacing x + y for x in 3x = k gives 3x + 3y = k
noun
4.
a.
a person or thing that serves in place of another, such as a player in a game who takes the place of an injured colleague
b.
(as modifier)
a substitute goalkeeper
Often shortened to: sub
5. grammar another name for pro-form
6. Canadian another name for supply teacher
7. nautical another word for repeater (sense 5)
8.
(formerly) a person paid to replace another due for military service
▶ USAGE Substitute is sometimes wrongly used where replace is meant: he replaced (not substituted) the worn tyre with a new one
Derived forms
substitutable (ˌsubstiˈtutable)
adjective
substitutability (ˌsubstiˌtutaˈbility)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin substituere, from sub- in place of + statuere to set up
substitute in American English
(ˈsʌbstəˌtut; ˈsʌbstəˌtjut)
noun
1.
a person or thing serving or used in place of another
2. Grammar
any word or word group, as a pronoun, the verb to do, etc., used in place of another word or words (Ex.: did for shouted in “she shouted and he did, too”)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈsubstiˌtuted or ˈsubstiˌtuting
3.
to put or use in place of another
4. Rare
to take the place of
5. Chemistry
to replace as a substituent
verb intransitive US
6.
to act or serve in place of another
often with for
adjective
7.
being a substitute or substitutes
Derived forms
substitutable (ˈsubstiˌtutable)
adjective
Word origin
ME < L substitutus, pp. of substituere, to put instead of < sub-, under + statuere, to put, place: see statue
Examples of 'substitute' in a sentence
substitute
Try substituting syrup for oil in other baking recipes as well.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
The experience taught me pretty quickly that in sales there is no substitute for hard work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is no substitute for experience and this is what the top players are realising.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The process of substituting one amino acid for another in a protein is not an instantaneous one.
Wills, Christopher The Runaway Brain: the Evolution of Human Uniqueness (1993)
He has been an unused substitute in four of the past five games.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
No player has been substituted more often.
The Sun (2011)
The heroin substitute can help addicts control and beat their addiction.
The Sun (2014)
Neither party is encountered fully and each could be substituted for another.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Treatment then consists of finding an acceptable substitute and avoiding penicillin.
Randolph, Theron G. & Moss, Ralph W. (contributor) An Alternative Approach to Allergies (1990)
So there is no need to subsidise oil substitutes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But there is no substitute for hard work regardless of your qualifications.
The Sun (2014)
No idea can substitute for this experience.
Christianity Today (2000)
But which player has been substituted the most?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The pair had both been introduced as substitutes with the game still in its infancy as a result of injuries.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is also an oil substitute.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He reacted to being substituted in one game by leaving at half-time.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He didn't play but was an unused substitute.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In some cases you may find a sugar-free substitute.
The Sun (2013)
And he wants to warn this year's contestants there is no substitute for hard work.
The Sun (2014)
The Stags are without nine crocked players and could not name their full complement of substitutes for a third successive game.
The Sun (2014)
And if they are insulted or substituted during a game they will not react to the crowd or throw their shirt to the ground in disgust.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Not only could one amino acid be substituted for another in the course of evolution, but sometimes amino acids could be lost or gained.
Wills, Christopher The Runaway Brain: the Evolution of Human Uniqueness (1993)
You can't expect strangers to know your name, so substituting something nice instead makes perfect sense.
The Sun (2012)
In other languages
substitute
British English: substitute /ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt/ NOUN
A substitute is something or someone that you use instead of something or someone else.
Reduced-calorie cheese is a great substitute for cream cheese.
American English: substitute
Arabic: بَدِيل
Brazilian Portuguese: substituto
Chinese: 替代品
Croatian: nadomjestak
Czech: náhrada
Danish: erstatning
Dutch: plaatsvervanger
European Spanish: sustituto
Finnish: sijainen
French: remplaçant
German: Ersatz
Greek: υποκατάστατο
Italian: sostituto
Japanese: 代用
Korean: 대체물
Norwegian: erstatning
Polish: substytut
European Portuguese: substituto
Romanian: înlocuitor
Russian: заменитель
Latin American Spanish: sustituto
Swedish: ersättning
Thai: คนหรือสิ่งที่เข้าแทนที่
Turkish: yedek
Ukrainian: заміна
Vietnamese: cái thay thế
British English: substitute /ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt/ VERB
If you substitute one thing for another, you use it instead of the other thing.
Would phone conversations substitute for cosy chats over lunch?
You could always substitute a low-fat cheese.
American English: substitute
Arabic: يَحِلُّ مَحَلَّ
Brazilian Portuguese: substituir
Chinese: 替代
Croatian: nadomjestiti
Czech: nahradit
Danish: erstatte
Dutch: vervangen
European Spanish: sustituir
Finnish: korvata joku
French: substituer à
German: ersetzen
Greek: υποκαθιστώ
Italian: sostituire
Japanese: 代用する
Korean: 대신하다
Norwegian: erstatte
Polish: podstawić
European Portuguese: substituir
Romanian: a substitui
Russian: заменять
Latin American Spanish: sustituir
Swedish: ersätta
Thai: แทนที่
Turkish: yerine geçmek
Ukrainian: заміняти
Vietnamese: thay thế
All related terms of 'substitute'
blood substitute
a substance such as plasma , albumin , or dextran , used to replace lost blood or increase the blood volume
father substitute
a male who replaces an absent father and becomes an object of attachment
substitute teacher
A substitute teacher is a teacher whose job is to take the place of other teachers at different schools when they are unable to be there.
sentence substitute
a word or phrase, esp one traditionally classified as an adverb , that is used in place of a finite sentence, such as yes, no, certainly , and never
turpentine substitute
any of various viscous oleoresins obtained from various coniferous trees, esp from the longleaf pine , and used as the main source of commercial turpentine
SNG
synthetic natural gas
turpentine
Turpentine is a colourless liquid used, for example , for cleaning paint off brushes .
Chinese translation of 'substitute'
substitute
(ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt)
n(c)
(= person) 代替者 (dàitìzhě) (位, wèi)
(= thing) 代用品 (dàiyòngpǐn) (件, jiàn)
(Football) 替补(補)队(隊)员(員) (tìbǔ duìyuán)
vt
to substitute sth (for sth)用某物代替(某物) (yòng mǒuwù dàitì (mǒuwù))
vi
to substitute for[person]接替 (jiētì) [thing]代替 (dàitì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to take the place of or put in place of another person or thing
They were substituting violence for dialogue.
Synonyms
replace
Replace that liquid with salt, sugar and water.
exchange
We exchanged addresses.
swap
Some hostages were swapped for convicted prisoners.
change
Can we change it for another if it doesn't work properly?
switch
The ballot boxes have been switched.
commute
interchange
She likes to interchange furniture at home with stock from the shop.
2 (verb)
Definition
to take the place of or put in place of another person or thing
i offered to substitute for her when she was ill.
Synonyms
stand in for
take the place of
He eventually took Charlie's place in the band.
cover for
take over from
relieve
At seven o'clock the night nurse came in to relieve her.
act for
double for
fill in for
hold the fort for
be in place of
deputize for
(noun)
Definition
a person or thing that takes the place of another, such as a player who takes the place of a team-mate
She is seeking a substitute while her secretary is on leave.
Synonyms
replacement
a replacement for the injured player
reserve
In this sport, you always have to have reserves.
equivalent
surrogate
Leningrad was the third alien city to offer him a surrogate home.
deputy
France's minister for culture and his deputy attended the meeting.
relief
No relief drivers were available.
representative
trade union representatives
sub
temporary
stand-by
makeshift
proxy
She sent him as her proxy to board meetings.
temp (informal)
expedient
locum
depute (Scottish)
stopgap
It is not an acceptable long term solution, just a stopgap.
locum tenens
(adjective)
She found work as a substitute teacher.
Synonyms
replacement
reserve
temporary
surrogate
second
The suitcase contained clean shirts and a second pair of shoes.
acting
The new acting President has a reputation for being independent.
alternative
alternative healthcare
additional
fall-back
proxy
Usage note
Although substitute and replace have the same meaning, the structures they are used in are different. You replace A with B, while you substitute B for A. Accordingly, he replaced the worn tyre with a new one, and he substituted a new tyre for the worn one are both correct ways of saying the same thing.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acting
Definition
temporarily performing the duties of
The new acting President has a reputation for being independent.
Synonyms
temporary,
substitute,
intervening,
interim,
provisional,
surrogate,
stopgap,
pro tem
in the sense of alternative
Definition
presenting a choice between two or more possibilities
alternative healthcare
Synonyms
substitute,
other,
different,
replacement,
alternate,
complementary,
non-standard
in the sense of change
Definition
to give and receive (something) in return
Can we change it for another if it doesn't work properly?
Synonyms
exchange,
trade,
replace,
substitute,
swap,
interchange
Synonyms of 'substitute'
substitute
Explore 'substitute' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of commute
Definition
to substitute
Synonyms
substitute,
trade,
exchange,
switch,
interchange,
barter
in the sense of deputy
Definition
a person appointed to act on behalf of another
France's minister for culture and his deputy attended the meeting.
Synonyms
substitute,
representative,
stand-in,
ambassador,
agent,
commissioner,
delegate,
lieutenant,
subordinate,
proxy,
surrogate,
second-in-command,
nuncio,
legate,
vicegerent,
number two
in the sense of exchange
Definition
to replace (one thing) with another, esp. to replace unsatisfactory goods
We exchanged addresses.
Synonyms
interchange,
change,
trade,
switch,
swap,
truck,
barter,
reciprocate,
bandy,
give to each other,
give to one another
in the sense of interchange
Definition
to change places or cause to change places
She likes to interchange furniture at home with stock from the shop.
Synonyms
exchange,
switch,
swap,
alternate,
trade,
barter,
reciprocate,
bandy
in the sense of proxy
Definition
a person authorized to act on behalf of someone else
She sent him as her proxy to board meetings.
Synonyms
representative,
agent,
deputy,
substitute,
factor (Scottish),
attorney,
delegate,
surrogate
in the sense of relief
Definition
a person who replaces another at some task or duty
No relief drivers were available.
Synonyms
replacement,
cover,
supply,
reserve,
substitute,
stand-in,
standby,
locum
in the sense of relieve
Definition
to take over the duties of (someone)
At seven o'clock the night nurse came in to relieve her.
Synonyms
take over from,
substitute for,
stand in for,
take the place of,
give (someone) a break or rest
in the sense of representative
Definition
a person chosen to act for or represent a group
trade union representatives
Synonyms
delegate,
member,
agent,
deputy,
commissioner,
councillor,
proxy,
depute (Scottish),
spokesman or woman or person
in the sense of reserve
Definition
a substitute
In this sport, you always have to have reserves.
Synonyms
substitute,
extra,
spare,
alternative,
fall-back,
auxiliary
in the sense of second
Definition
another of the same kind
The suitcase contained clean shirts and a second pair of shoes.
Synonyms
spare,
duplicate,
alternative,
additional,
relief,
twin,
substitute,
back-up,
reproduction
Additional synonyms
in the sense of stopgap
Definition
a thing that serves as a substitute for a short time until replaced by something more suitable
It is not an acceptable long term solution, just a stopgap.
Synonyms
makeshift,
improvisation,
temporary expedient,
shift,
resort,
substitute
in the sense of surrogate
Definition
a person or thing acting as a substitute
Leningrad was the third alien city to offer him a surrogate home.
Synonyms
substitute,
deputy,
representative,
stand-in,
proxy
in the sense of swap
Definition
to exchange (something) for something else
Some hostages were swapped for convicted prisoners.
Synonyms
exchange,
trade,
switch,
traffic,
interchange,
barter,
trade off
in the sense of switch
Definition
to exchange (places) or swap (something for something else)