Pronunciation

/subˈstɪtjuːt/

Definitions

Noun

• A substitute is a person or thing that takes the place of another when the original is not present, unavailable, or needed. For example: “The teacher asked for a volunteer to be a substitute for the absent student.”
• A substitute teacher is a temporary educator who fills in for a regular teacher who is absent or on leave.

Verb

• To substitute means to replace someone or something with another, usually temporarily. For example: “The coach decided to substitute the goalkeeper for a fresher player.”
• To serve as a substitute means to function in place of another, often in a less preferred or official capacity. For example: “The spare key serves as a substitute in case we lose the main one.”

Phrases

• “Substitute for” indicates replacement or stand-in. For example: “This new software will serve as a substitute for the outdated one.”
• “Use a substitute” means to utilize an alternative. For example: “Use low-fat milk as a substitute for whole milk in your recipe.”
• “In lieu of” is a phrase meaning instead of, often used with a substitute. For example: “In lieu of a personal appearance, the CEO sent a video message.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The company hired a temporary substitute employee to cover the maternity leave.”
• Verb: “The coach made several substitutions during the match to keep the team fresh.”
• Phrasal: “I’ll bring some extra pens in case someone forgets theirs; you can use a substitute if you need one.”

Synonyms

• Replace
• Replaceable
• Stand-in
• Replacement
• Backup
• Alternate
• Temporarily fill in for
• Sub for