substitute

To use one person or thing instead of another.

• You can substitute milk for cream.
• We substituted cheaper materials to reduce costs.
• Could you substitute for me at tomorrow’s meeting?

How to use it: substitute A for B (You can substitute honey for sugar.); substitute B with A (We substituted the butter with olive oil.)

Similar words: replace, stand in

Common phrases: substitute something for something, substitute someone for someone

To take a player out of a game and put another player in their place.

• The coach substituted our goalkeeper.
• He was substituted after twenty minutes.
• Will they substitute the injured player?

How to use it: substitute someone for someone (The coach substituted a defender for the injured striker.)

Similar words: replace, take off

Common phrases: substitute a player, substitute someone for someone

Something used instead of another thing for the same purpose.

• This drink contains a sugar substitute.
• There is no substitute for fresh air.
• We found a cheaper substitute for the original material.

How to use it: substitute for something (Yogurt is a good substitute for cream.)

Similar words: replacement, alternative

Common phrases: sugar substitute, a suitable substitute, substitute for something

A person ready to take another person’s place, especially a teacher or a member of a sports team.

• We had a substitute teacher today.
• The team called in a substitute.
• Our substitute taught maths while Mrs Lee was away.

How to use it: substitute for someone (We need a substitute for our regular teacher.)

Similar words: stand-in, replacement

Common phrases: substitute teacher, act as substitute, substitute for someone

A player who waits to take the place of another player during a game.

• He started the match as a substitute.
• The coach sent on two substitutes.
• An unused substitute watched the whole game from the bench.

Similar words: reserve, replacement

Common phrases: unused substitute, substitute goalkeeper, come on as substitute