¹substitute

noun sub·sti·tute \ˈsəb-stə-ˌtüt, -ˌtyüt\

: a person or thing that takes the place of someone or something else

sports : a player who takes the place of another player during a game

Full Definition of SUBSTITUTE

: a person or thing that takes the place or function of another

— substitute adjective

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Origin of SUBSTITUTE

Middle English, from Anglo-French substitut, from Latin substitutus, past participle of substituere to put in place of, from sub- + statuere to set up, place — more at statute

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SUBSTITUTE

Synonyms: backup, cover, designated hitter, fill-in, locum tenens, pinch hitter, relief, replacement, reserve, stand-in, sub

Rhymes with SUBSTITUTE

absolute, Aleut, arrowroot, Asyût, attribute, autoroute, bandicoot, bathing suit, birthday suit, bitterroot, bodysuit, boilersuit, bumbershoot, business suit, comminute, constitute, contribute, convolute, destitute, disrepute, dissolute, execute, follow suit, gingerroot, hot pursuit, institute, involute, kiwifruit, leisure suit, malamute, overshoot, parachute, passion fruit, persecute, point-and-shoot, prosecute, prostitute, qiviut, resolute, restitute, revolute, run-and-shoot, rural route, subacute, troubleshoot, undershoot

²substitute

verb

: to put or use (someone or something) in place of someone or something else

: to do the job of someone else or serve the function of something else

: to replace (one person or thing) with another

substitut·edsubstitut·ing

Full Definition of SUBSTITUTE

transitive verb

a : to put or use in the place of another

b : to introduce (an atom or group) as a substituent; also : to alter (as a compound) by introduction of a substituent <a substituted benzene ring>

: to take the place of : replace

intransitive verb

: to serve as a substitute

See substitute defined for English-language learners