1. Put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
   "substitute regular milk for fat-free milk";
   - replace, interchange, exchange, sub [informal]
    
2. Be a substitute
   "The skim milk substitutes for cream — we are on a strict diet"; "The young teacher had to substitute for the sick colleague";
   - sub [informal], stand in, fill in
    
3. Act or speak as a replacement (for someone or something)
   "The assistant coach had to substitute for the head coach during his illness";
   - deputize, deputise [Brit], step in, sub [informal]

1. A person or thing that takes or can take the place of another
   "The teacher called in a substitute when she was sick";
   - replacement
    
2. An athlete who plays only when a starter on the team is replaced
   "The substitute got his chance to play when the starting quarterback was injured";
   - reserve, second-stringer [informal]
    
3. Someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult)
   "the star had a substitute for dangerous scenes";
   - stand-in, relief, reliever, backup, fill-in

1. Serving or used in place of another
   "The substitute teacher covered the class while Mr. Smith was away";
   - alternate, alternative
    
2. Capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team
   "a substitute infielder";
   - utility
    
3. Artificial and inferior
   "substitute coffee";
   - ersatz

Derived forms: substituted, substitutes, substituting

See also: artificial, secondary, unreal

Type of: alter, athlete, change, compeer, equal, equivalent, exchange, interchange, jock [N. Amer, informal], match, modify, peer, replace, supercede [non-standard], supersede, supervene upon, supplant

Part of: bench

Encyclopedia: Substitute