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Glite Dictionary
🔄 A replacement 🔄 To replace 🔄 Replacement (adj)
to substitute

to substitute

130 2.4
To use one thing or person in place of another
  • verb
  • /ˈsʌb.stɪ.tjuːt/
translation icon : sustituir por
  • I need to substitute honey for sugar in this recipe.
  • substitute an alternative
  • substitute the word
  • substitute technology

You could replace them or substitute one for the other, correct?

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Examples

  • 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

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
to step in
vsto substitute
240 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
to stand in
vsto substitute
115 3.5

To take someone else's place for a short time

covers the same replacement idea without implying temporary length
to fill in
vsto substitute
100 3.3

Do someone else's job for a short time

is the neutral act of replacing someone, not only temporary help
to sit in for
vsto substitute
24 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
to sub
vsto substitute
  • Informal
19 5.8

To take someone's place for a short time

is the broader verb for acting in another's place regardless of duration
to deputize
vsto substitute
  • US
19 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
to stand in for
vsto substitute
14 3.2

To take someone's place for a short time

is the general notion of acting in place, not only short term
to fill someone's shoes
vsto substitute
4 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
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
to supervene upon
vsto substitute
  • Formal
9.9

To take the place of something or someone

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

Antonyms

to retain
236 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

Compounds

coffee substitute
3.4

A drink like coffee that people drink instead of coffee

How Permanent

to replace
∞ 1.8
to substitute
130 2.4
to fill in
100 3.3

Surface Forms

substitute infinitive
substituted past
substituted past participle
substituting present participle
substitutes third person singular

Morphology

substitute = sub + stitute

The verb shows the same learned combining structure (sub- + -stitute) where '-stitute' is not a standalone English word, so the internal logic is only partly transparent to learners.

Etymology

Substitute comes from the Latin parts sub- 'under' and statuere 'to put in place'. So to substitute is to 'put one thing in the place of another' or to act as a replacement.