substitute
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1sub·sti·tute
noun \ˈsəb-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt\Definition of SUBSTITUTE
: a person or thing that takes the place or function of another
— substitute adjective
See Examples of SUBSTITUTE
- <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>
Origin of SUBSTITUTE
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: 15th century
Related to SUBSTITUTE
- Synonyms
- backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub
Rhymes with SUBSTITUTE
absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, comminute, constitute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, execute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prosecute, prostitute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, troubleshoot, undershoot
2substitute
verbsubstitut·edsubstitut·ing
Definition of SUBSTITUTE
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 (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
- One of our teachers is sick, so we need someone to substitute.
- They substituted real candles with electric ones.
First Known Use of SUBSTITUTE
circa 1594
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