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
If vegetable broth is your preferred base for soups and stews, this can work as a substitute here. Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2024 Second-half substitute Camila Barbosa finally broke the spell in the 64th minute, deflecting a shot in off a corner for Paraguay to cut Mexico’s lead to 2-1. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 The information provided here is not legal advice and does not purport to be a substitute for advice of counsel on any specific matter. Ivan Guzenko, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Dear Therapist is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Lori Gottlieb, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024 In an attempt to prevent Liverpool tiring, Klopp threw on his young substitutes – including 18-year-old Jayden Danns, 19-year-old James McConnell and 19-year-old Bobby Clark – marking the most teenagers appearing for a single team in a Carabao Cup final since 2007. Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 Ross Lovich came in as a substitute in the fourth inning and had three singles to tie Peyton Holt for the team lead with three hits. Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 28 Feb. 2024 The board review is sometimes a substitute to Plan Commission review for new developments. Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 With both Anunoby and Bogdanović now on the roster, Thibodeau can easily switch between needs, and substitute players on the fly. Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Verb
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 women were regularly substituted and replaced, so a new face in the crowd was unlikely to draw attention from the other babushkas or from the militia. Dawn Klavon, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 According to Britannica, anyone who becomes ill or has to travel, extra fasting days can be substituted after Ramadan ends. The Arizona Republic, 19 Feb. 2024 Nuñez was brought off at half-time in what may prove to be yet another injury problem for the Reds, on a day where Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota also had to be substituted. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 Manufacturers then substituted short-chain PFAS, which have fewer carbons in their structure and weren’t thought to be as hazardous as long-chain PFAS, in their products to replace them. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 28 Feb. 2024 This was a pyrrhic victory, however, because the chemical industry substituted other bisphenols, specifically BPS and BPF, which may be at least as harmful as BPA. Gerald Markowitz, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 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 19 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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