Meaning & use
substitute
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Meanings
nouncountable
A person or thing that takes the place of another, especially when the original is unavailable.
Grammar: Countable noun: a substitute, the substitute, substitutes.
Patterns
- a substitute for someone/something
- as a substitute
- the substitute teacher
We couldn't get fresh basil, so we used dried oregano as a substitute.
The team's substitute came on in the second half.
Honey is a common substitute for sugar in baking.
verbtransitive
To use or put someone or something in place of another.
Grammar: Takes an object: substitute the margarine. The thing you remove comes after for: substitute margarine for butter.
Patterns
- substitute something for something
- substitute for someone
- substitute someone/something with someone/something
You can substitute olive oil for butter in this recipe.
The coach substituted the injured player with a fresh one.
In an emergency, you may substitute a written test for the oral exam.
Word forms
| plural | substitutes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | substitutes |
| past tense | substituted |
| past participle | substituted |
| -ing form | substituting |
Common combinations
- a substitute for
- There is no substitute for hard work.
- as a substitute
- She used applesauce as a substitute for oil in the cake.
- substitute teacher
- The substitute teacher took attendance.
- substitute player
- The substitute player scored the winning goal.
- substitute something for something
- You can substitute honey for sugar.
Synonyms and how they differ
- replacement
- Replacement is more general and often implies the original is gone for good; substitute often suggests a temporary or stand-in use.
- stand-in
- Stand-in is informal and usually refers to a person who takes someone's place temporarily, especially in acting.
- alternate
- Alternate is mainly American and often means a second choice that can be used instead; substitute is broader.
Opposites
Word family
- substitution noun
- The act of replacing one thing with another.
- substitutive adjective
- Serving as a substitute.
Commonly confused: substitute or replace?
substitute vs replace
Replace means to take the place of something or to put something back; substitute means to use something in place of another. You substitute X for Y, but you replace Y with X.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The verb substitute takes for to introduce the thing that is used instead: substitute butter for oil means use butter in place of oil. With is possible in some patterns (substitute butter with oil) but less standard; by and to are not used here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “substitute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.