place holders

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Something used temporarily to mark a spot until the real thing is available.

   Grammar: Plural of 'place holder'; the singular is 'place holder'.

   Patterns

   • a place holder for something
   • use something as a place holder

   The table has place holders for the photos we still need to add.

   We used sticky notes as place holders until the printed signs arrived.

2. 2nounpluralcomputing

   A symbol or short text put in a document that is later replaced with real content.

   Grammar: Common in computing and writing guides; often written as one word, 'placeholders'.

   Patterns

   • replace the place holders
   • fill in the place holders

   The template is full of place holders like [NAME] and [DATE].

   Replace the place holders with your own details before sending the letter.

Word forms

Common combinations

use something as a place holder

We used an old box as a place holder for the new sofa.

replace the place holders

Replace the place holders with the final figures.

a place holder for something

This card is just a place holder for your library pass.

fill in the place holders

Fill in the place holders in the form and sign at the bottom.

Synonyms and how they differ

stand-in

A stand-in is usually a person or thing doing another's job for a time, while a place holder simply marks a position.

substitute

A substitute is a full replacement, but a place holder is only temporary and often empty.

Word family

placeholder noun

The usual one-word spelling of the same idea.

place noun

A particular position or area.

Commonly confused: place holders or place setting?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “place holders”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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