substitute
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a thing that you use instead of something else.
n.a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
Simple“If you do not have any butter, margarine is a good substitute for this cake recipe.”
In context“The chef suggested using coconut milk as a dairy-free substitute, though he warned it might slightly alter the final texture of the sauce.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a player who replaces another player during a match.
n.a player who is designated to replace another during a match, often for tactical reasons or due to injury.
Simple“The coach brought on a substitute in the second half to help the tired team.”
In context“The manager made a double substitution in the final ten minutes, hoping the fresh legs of the substitutes would break the defensive deadlock.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a teacher who works in a school when the regular teacher is ill or away.
n.a teacher who fills a temporary vacancy, typically on a day-to-day basis. Often used as a compound noun 'substitute teacher'.
Simple“Our regular math teacher was sick, so a substitute taught the class today.”
In context“The substitute struggled to maintain order in the classroom as the students took advantage of the regular teacher's absence.”
Synonymssupply teacherstand in - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to use one person or thing instead of another.
v.to put or use a person or thing in place of another.
Simple“You can substitute honey for sugar if you want a different flavour.”
In context“The recipe allows you to substitute Greek yoghurt for heavy cream to reduce the overall fat content without sacrificing the creamy consistency.”
UsageTakes the preposition 'for' to indicate the original item being replaced.
PitfallYou can substitute honey by sugar. You can substitute honey for sugar.Use the preposition 'for' to indicate the thing being replaced.
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to do someone else's job for a short time while they are away.
v.to serve as a replacement for someone else.
Simple“I had to substitute for my colleague while she was at the hospital.”
In context“The junior partner was asked to substitute for the lead attorney during the preliminary hearing due to a sudden scheduling conflict.”
UsageUsually followed by the preposition 'for'.
Usage substitute appearances
“If they fail to do so, the substitute cannot enter the field for at least one minute and the team must play with 10 players.”
“He grabbed the spotlight when fast-tracked into Egypt’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, and became his country’s youngest debutant when appearing as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Belgium.”
From Middle English substituten, from Latin substitutus, past participle of substituō, from sub- (“under; beneath”) + statuō (“to put up; establish”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.