substitute
person or thing used instead
A person or thing that is used instead of another person or thing.
a substitute for [something/someone]
- If you don't have vanilla, you can use almond extract as a substitute.
- Many people drink soy milk as a substitute for cow's milk.
- We need a substitute for Mark while he is on leave.
- There is no perfect substitute for fresh ingredients.
- I used honey as a substitute for sugar.
- They found a substitute for the broken part.
- We need a substitute for our manager this week.
- Water is not a good substitute for milk in this recipe.
use one thing instead of another
To use one person or thing in place of another person or thing.
substitute [A] for [B]
- You can substitute yogurt for sour cream in this recipe.
- In this equation, substitute 3 for x and solve.
- If you don’t eat meat, you can substitute tofu for chicken.
- We had to substitute a different material for the original one due to cost.
- You can substitute rice for bread if you like.
- Substitute water for milk if you are allergic.
- In the test, substitute 10 for n in the formula.
- She substituted fruit juice for soda.
player who comes on instead
A sports player who comes into the game to take another player's place.
a substitute for [a player]
- The coach brought on a substitute in the final minutes.
- She started the match on the bench as a substitute.
- Our substitutes made a big difference in the second half.
- He came on as a late substitute and scored the winning goal.
- He was a substitute in the football game.
- The team used all of their substitutes.
- She came on as a substitute and scored.
- I was only a substitute, not a starting player.
replace one player with another
To remove one player from a game and put another player in instead.
substitute [player] for [player]
- The coach substituted Lopez for Garcia at half-time.
- They substituted their star player late in the match to rest him.
- She was substituted after she twisted her ankle.
- The manager refused to substitute any players before the break.
- The coach substituted a new player in the second half.
- They substituted their tired goalkeeper.
- She was substituted after 60 minutes.
- The team did not substitute any players.
teacher who replaces regular teacher
A teacher who works in a class when the normal teacher is not there.
a substitute in [class/grade]
- We had a substitute in math today because our teacher was sick.
- She works as a substitute at several local schools.
- The school called a substitute when the science teacher went on leave.
- Finding a substitute at short notice can be difficult.
- We had a substitute today in English class.
- My mother is a substitute at a primary school.
- The school needs a substitute for two weeks.
- They called a substitute because the teacher was ill.
serving as a replacement
Doing the job of another person or thing for a short time.
substitute [noun]
- The company appointed a substitute manager during her maternity leave.
- He worked as a substitute driver while the regular one was away.
- We bought a substitute product until the usual brand was back in stock.
- The team had to rely on a substitute goalkeeper in the final.
- We have a substitute teacher this week.
- They hired a substitute driver for the day.
- She is the substitute manager this month.
- The store sells a substitute product when the main one is out.
- Base: substitute
- Plural: substitutes
- Base: substitute
- 3rd Person Singular: substitutes
- Present Participle: substituting
- Past: substituted
as a substitute for
1used instead of something else
Used to say that one thing is used instead of another thing.
- Many people now use plant milk as a substitute for dairy milk.
- He used email as a substitute for face-to-face meetings.
- They hired temporary staff as a substitute for full-time employees during the busy season.
no substitute for
1nothing else is as good as
Used to say that something is very important and nothing else can be as good as it.
- There is no substitute for hard work.
- For learning a language, there is no substitute for regular practice.
- Good communication is no substitute for real trust, but it is a start.
substitute A for B
1use A instead of B
To use A in place of B; to put A instead of B.
- You can substitute olive oil for butter in this dish.
- If you don't have cream, substitute milk for it.
- In the formula, substitute 5 for x and solve the problem.
substitute for
1be used instead of something
To be or be used in place of someone or something.
- Nothing can substitute for a good night's sleep.
- In this recipe, applesauce can substitute for butter.
- Online courses cannot fully substitute for classroom experience.
substitute teacher
1teacher who fills in temporarily
A teacher who takes a class when the normal teacher is not there.
- We had a substitute teacher in science today.
- She works as a substitute teacher at three different schools.
- The substitute teacher introduced herself at the start of class.
substitute with
1replace something using something else
To use something else in place of a thing that you remove or do not use.
- In this recipe, you can substitute sugar with honey.
- Many companies have substituted plastic with paper packaging.
- You may substitute the missing part with any similar piece.