sub·sti·tute
ˈsəb-stə-ˌtüt 
-ˌtyüt
: a person or thing that takes the place or function of another
substitute
adjective
substituted; substituting
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
: to serve as a substitute
Synonyms
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
Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
No material within this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Hearts of Palm Pasta with Baby Tomatoes Pasta, or anything made with wheat flour, is not permitted on Passover; but a new kind of pasta made with hearts of palm makes a pleasing, easy to use substitute.
—Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
At the controls was Edward Luciano, a young and inexperienced driver with only two hours of training, brought in as a substitute to cover a strike.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Youngkin proposed substitute language that would make the legislation an expression of the sentiment of the legislature, rather than add it to state law.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Just last weekend, Newcastle United produced a stirring comeback from 3-1 down at home to West Ham to win 4-3, with second-half substitute Harvey Barnes scoring a long-range curling 90th-minute winner to secure all three points.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Such a gift must be framed within the context of enhancing personal pleasure and not as a substitute for intimacy.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Bardfield was a long-term substitute sixth grade teacher in the Decatur Public Schools District.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
If substituting for frozen, rinse and dry before folding into the batter to keep the color from leaching into the cake batter.
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
Roughly a third of the country’s 123,000 public libraries offer mobile hotspot lending, allowing visitors to borrow palm-sized devices that pump out a cellular signal that can substitute for home internet service in a pinch, said Megan Janicki, a policy expert at the American Library Association.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
This recipe was developed around the wild morels from the Sierra used at Flour + Water, but feel free to substitute other varieties that are available to you.
—Sunset Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Instead of the creamy queso Paraguaya that’s traditional in the recipe, for instance, many chefs and cooks substitute similar cheeses like mozzarella, Muenster and Monterey Jack.
—Christina Morales, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Undeterred, the Murrieta Police Department announced plans this week to continue sharing photos of suspects on its social media accounts — with what appear to be Lego heads substituted for the suspects’ faces.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Barnett's death should not end the claim, as his estate could be substituted in as the complainant, Washington, D.C., whistleblower attorney Stephen Kohn said.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024
Emojis don’t substitute for real smiles or laughter.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
Noun
The quest for physical optimization can easily become a substitute for deeper fulfillment.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
No material within this article is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
—Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Hearts of Palm Pasta with Baby Tomatoes Pasta, or anything made with wheat flour, is not permitted on Passover; but a new kind of pasta made with hearts of palm makes a pleasing, easy to use substitute.
—Yakir Levy, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
At the controls was Edward Luciano, a young and inexperienced driver with only two hours of training, brought in as a substitute to cover a strike.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Youngkin proposed substitute language that would make the legislation an expression of the sentiment of the legislature, rather than add it to state law.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
Just last weekend, Newcastle United produced a stirring comeback from 3-1 down at home to West Ham to win 4-3, with second-half substitute Harvey Barnes scoring a long-range curling 90th-minute winner to secure all three points.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
Such a gift must be framed within the context of enhancing personal pleasure and not as a substitute for intimacy.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 3 Apr. 2024
Bardfield was a long-term substitute sixth grade teacher in the Decatur Public Schools District.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
Arming consumers with education simply cannot substitute for asking whether certain industry practices should be permitted in the first place.
—TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
If substituting for frozen, rinse and dry before folding into the batter to keep the color from leaching into the cake batter.
—Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024
Roughly a third of the country’s 123,000 public libraries offer mobile hotspot lending, allowing visitors to borrow palm-sized devices that pump out a cellular signal that can substitute for home internet service in a pinch, said Megan Janicki, a policy expert at the American Library Association.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
This recipe was developed around the wild morels from the Sierra used at Flour + Water, but feel free to substitute other varieties that are available to you.
—Sunset Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
Instead of the creamy queso Paraguaya that’s traditional in the recipe, for instance, many chefs and cooks substitute similar cheeses like mozzarella, Muenster and Monterey Jack.
—Christina Morales, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024
Undeterred, the Murrieta Police Department announced plans this week to continue sharing photos of suspects on its social media accounts — with what appear to be Lego heads substituted for the suspects’ faces.
—Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024
Barnett's death should not end the claim, as his estate could be substituted in as the complainant, Washington, D.C., whistleblower attorney Stephen Kohn said.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2024
Emojis don’t substitute for real smiles or laughter.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 31 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.
Dictionary Entries Near substitute
Cite this Entry
“Substitute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substitute. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
substitute
1 of 2 noun
sub·sti·tute
ˈsəb-stə-ˌt(y)üt
: 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
noun
ˌsəb-stə-ˈt(y)ü-shən
Medical Definition
substitute
1 of 2 noun
sub·sti·tute
ˈsəb-stə-ˌt(y)üt
: 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
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