substitute

1. 1

   To use in place of something else, with the same function.transitive

   • I had no shallots so I substituted onion.
2. 2

   To use X in place of Y.transitive

   • I had to substitute new parts for the old ones.
3. 3

   To use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y.transitive

   • I had to substitute old parts with the new ones.
4. 4

   To remove (a player) from the field of play and bring on another in his place.transitive

   • He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes
5. 5

   To serve as a replacement (for someone or something).intransitive

   • Accumulation of wealth by this route may substitute for personal saving.

syn. swap

1. 1

   A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.

   • Ladies [in William Shakespeare's age], again, universally wore masks as the sole substitute known to our ancestors for the modern parasol; a fact, perhaps, not generally known.
   • Since you left me, if you see me with another girl / Seeming like I'm having fun / Although she may be cute, she's just a substitute / Because you're the permanent one
2. 2

   A substitute teacher.

3. 3

   A player who is available to replace another if the need arises, and who may or may not actually do so.

   • Dean Whitehead opened the scoring shortly after the break with a low finish and substitute Peter Crouch sealed the win with a tap-in.
4. 4

   One who enlists for military service in the place of a conscript.historical

5. 5

   Abbreviation of substitute good.abbreviationalt-of

syn. fill-in · ghost · proxy · replacement · stand-in · substitute · surrogate