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
Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024
Martinez entered the game as a substitute for Mounsef Bakrar in the 82nd minute.
—Observer Wire Reports, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Our driver assistance systems are designed to aid drivers, but are not substitutes for attentive driving.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
For athletes, pickle juice can essentially act as a substitute Gatorade.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
There is no readily available substitute for China’s critical role in the Japanese economy.
—Tomohiko Taniguchi, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
Second-half substitute Leandro Trossard scored a late equalizer to tie the scores at 2-2, setting up an enticing return leg in Munich on April 17.
—Ben Church, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
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
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
Karla Ruiz, 48, who made history in 2020 by becoming Tijuana’s first female mayor to hold office as a substitute after filling in for former Mayor Arturo González Cruz, will seek to return to office with the Citizen’s Movement party.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2024
Martinez entered the game as a substitute for Mounsef Bakrar in the 82nd minute.
—Observer Wire Reports, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Our driver assistance systems are designed to aid drivers, but are not substitutes for attentive driving.
—Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
For athletes, pickle juice can essentially act as a substitute Gatorade.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024
There is no readily available substitute for China’s critical role in the Japanese economy.
—Tomohiko Taniguchi, Foreign Affairs, 16 Apr. 2024
Second-half substitute Leandro Trossard scored a late equalizer to tie the scores at 2-2, setting up an enticing return leg in Munich on April 17.
—Ben Church, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
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
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 2 May. 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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