# substitute

/ˈsəbstəˌtut/ (US) · /sˈʌbstɪtjˌuːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/substitute
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a replacement thing

noun · CEFR B2

a thing that you use instead of something else.

For teachers: a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

- If you do not have any butter, margarine is a good substitute for this cake recipe.
- The chef suggested using coconut milk as a dairy-free substitute, though he warned it might slightly alter the final texture of the sauce.

### 2. sports/team

noun · CEFR B1

a player who replaces another player during a match.

For teachers: a player who is designated to replace another during a match, often for tactical reasons or due to injury.

- The coach brought on a substitute in the second half to help the tired team.
- The manager made a double substitution in the final ten minutes, hoping the fresh legs of the substitutes would break the defensive deadlock.

### 3. a replacement teacher

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a teacher who works in a school when the regular teacher is ill or away.

For teachers: a teacher who fills a temporary vacancy, typically on a day-to-day basis. Often used as a compound noun 'substitute teacher'.

- Our regular math teacher was sick, so a substitute taught the class today.
- The substitute struggled to maintain order in the classroom as the students took advantage of the regular teacher's absence.

### 4. to use instead of

verb · CEFR B2

to use one person or thing instead of another.

For teachers: to put or use a person or thing in place of another.

- You can substitute honey for sugar if you want a different flavour.
- The recipe allows you to substitute Greek yoghurt for heavy cream to reduce the overall fat content without sacrificing the creamy consistency.

Usage: Takes the preposition 'for' to indicate the original item being replaced.

### 5. to act as a replacement

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to do someone else's job for a short time while they are away.

For teachers: to serve as a replacement for someone else.

- I had to substitute for my colleague while she was at the hospital.
- The junior partner was asked to substitute for the lead attorney during the preliminary hearing due to a sudden scheduling conflict.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'for'.

## Examples

- Honey is a good substitute for sugar in this recipe.
- The coach decided to bring on a substitute in the second half to improve the team's energy.
- In many industrial processes, manufacturers are seeking a sustainable substitute for petroleum-based plastics to meet new environmental regulations without sacrificing product durability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.