substitute

1 of 2

noun

sub·​sti·​tute ˈsəb-stə-ˌtüt How to pronounce substitute (audio)
-ˌtyüt
: a person or thing that takes the place or function of another
substitute adjective

substitute

2 of 2

verb

substituted; substituting

transitive verb

1
a
: to put or use in the place of another
b
: to introduce (an atom or group) as a substituent
also : to alter (something, such as a compound) by introduction of a substituent
a substituted benzene ring
2
: to take the place of : replace

intransitive verb

: to serve as a substitute

Examples of substitute in a Sentence

Noun you'll be getting a substitute until your regular teacher is feeling better if you like, you can use nuts as a substitute for coconut in that recipe Verb One of our teachers is sick, so we need someone to substitute. They substituted real candles with electric ones.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Crumble it up Soft and medium block tofu is easily crumbled, which can make for a great substitute for ground beef recipes. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024 Prunes can be enjoyed as a snack or in trail mix, added to cereal or oatmeal, used in baked goods as a butter substitute, and in stews or sauces. Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024 Aid groups have criticized airdrops and deliveries by sea as ineffective substitutes for deliveries by road. Miriam Berger, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 Smaller Persian cucumbers also makes a good substitute for the seedless cucumbers. Jan Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024 These issues have fueled the view that in the car world there's simply no substitute for the experience gained from making vehicles for a century, like, say, BMW has. Jeremy White, WIRED, 18 Mar. 2024 United winger Antony, who came on as a substitute, dragged an effort wide in what was at that point a rare United venture forward. Sam Joseph, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 But the House's committee substitute is a condensed version of House Bill 9, which comes down harder on DEI polices. Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024 These questionnaires are not a substitute for regular mammograms, which women should start at age 40. TIME, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Rodman ran out of gas in the 86th minute and had to be substituted out before the Spirit scored the game-winner. Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024 This aromatic plant can substitute for allspice and is a host plant of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly. Daryln Brewer Hoffstot Kristian Thacker, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2024 No Labels hasn't decided on its candidates yet, and many states do not allow parties or tickets to substitute presidential or vice presidential candidates later on. Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2024 Over the past year or so, Jenner has substituted her multi-step routine with simplified glam that highlights her natural features — which, by the way, is not influenced by her boyfriend, Timothée Chalamet. Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 In areas like Asia, the progress of the market is inconsistent, frequently substituting advertising efficiency with political connections, which complicates matters for forward-thinking companies. Aleks Farseev, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Can substitute with fettuccini or other types of flat noodles. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 There are 99 musicians total along for the ride — 81 of them permanent NSO players, the others substitutes under various degrees of contract. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 As a result, Rosatom could not fully substitute its own technicians and staff. Nataliya Gumenyuk, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'substitute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French substitut, from Latin substitutus, past participle of substituere to put in place of, from sub- + statuere to set up, place — more at statute

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of substitute was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near substitute

Cite this Entry

“Substitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substitute. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

substitute

1 of 2 noun
sub·​sti·​tute ˈsəb-stə-ˌt(y)üt How to pronounce substitute (audio)
: a person or thing that takes the place of another
substitute adjective

substitute

2 of 2 verb
substituted; substituting
1
: to put in the place of another : replace
2
: to serve as a substitute
substitution
ˌsəb-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shən
noun

Medical Definition

substitute

1 of 2 noun
sub·​sti·​tute ˈsəb-stə-ˌt(y)üt How to pronounce substitute (audio)
: a person or thing that takes the place or function of another
father and mother substitutes
substitute adjective

substitute

2 of 2 transitive verb
substituted; substituting
: to put or use in the place of another: as
a
: to introduce (an atom or group) as a substituent
b
: to alter (as a compound) by introduction of a substituent

More from Merriam-Webster on substitute

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