substitute
adjective
1. capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team
Similar word(s): secondary, utility
2. serving or used in place of another
Similar word(s): secondary, alternate, alternative
3. artificial and inferior
- substitute coffee
Similar word(s): artificial, unreal, ersatz
noun
1. a person or thing that takes or can take the place of another
Similar word(s): replacement
Definition categories: thought, equivalent
2. an athlete who plays only when a starter on the team is replaced
Similar word(s): reserve
Definition categories: person, athlete, jock
3. someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
verb
1. put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
- substitute regular milk for fat-free milk
Similar word(s): exchange, interchange, replace
Definition categories: possession, alter, change, modify
2. be a substitute
- The young teacher had to substitute for the sick colleague
- The skim milk substitutes for cream--we are on a strict diet
Similar word(s): sub
Definition categories: possession, change, exchange, interchange
3. act as a substitute
Similar word(s): deputise, deputize
Definition categories: social, replace, supersede, supplant
Sentences with substitute as a verb:
- I had no shallots so I substituted onion.
- I had to substitute new parts for the old ones.
- I had to substitute old parts with the new ones. (This usage was formerly proscribed.)
- He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes