to substitute

Examples

• All

• Lighting is automatically controlled by sensors, allowing natural daylight to substitute for artificial lighting when appropriate.

  Academic text (2011)

• So what happens if we now substitute for less valuable materials?

• OK, so I plan to substitute those in here.

• Now we need to take this and substitute it back into here.

• So what we'll get when we substitute in our U's instead?

• Well, what would you guys substitute for the beat box?

• And it's very easy to miss all of that and substitute the easier question.

• You cannot race unless you substitute the previously approved components.

  F1 (2025)

• So I can easily substitute it with meetings, or everything that I need to do.

  The Definition of Insanity (2020)

• Natural ability, talent, or even genius cannot substitute for time spent acquiring knowledge and skills.

  Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

R

to replace

vsto substitute

∞ 1.8

Put another thing or person in place of one that is broken

focuses on the act of acting in place rather than replacing damaged items

S

to step in

vsto substitute

233 3.2

To get involved to help or take someone's place

is the neutral act of acting in place, not necessarily stepping into problems

F

to fill in

vsto substitute

108 3.3

Do someone else's job for a short time

is the neutral act of replacing someone, not only temporary help

S

to stand in

vsto substitute

45 3.5

To take someone else's place for a short time

covers the same replacement idea without implying temporary length

S

to sit in for

vsto substitute

30 4.2

To take someone's place for a short time and do their job

is the wider concept of acting in place, not tied to short terms

S

to stand in for

vsto substitute

26 3.2

To take someone's place for a short time

is the general notion of acting in place, not only short term

D

to deputize

vsto substitute

• US

18 6.3

To give someone the right to act for another person for a short time

is the basic action of taking another's role without formal appointment

F

to fill someone's shoes

vsto substitute

13 5.3

To take over someone's job when it is hard to do it as well

means simply acting in another's place without implying difficulty

S

to sub

vsto substitute

• Informal

8 5.8

To take someone's place for a short time

is the broader verb for acting in another's place regardless of duration

S

to surrogate

vsto substitute

1 6.8

To act for someone when they cannot be there

is the general act of taking another's place without legal formality

S

to supervene upon

vsto substitute

• Formal

1 9.9

To take the place of something or someone

is the everyday idea of acting in place without the formal tone

Antonyms

R

to retain

291 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

Compounds

C

coffee substitute

1 3.4

A drink like coffee that people drink instead of coffee

How Permanent

to replace

∞ 1.8

to substitute

118 2.4

to fill in

108 3.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology