» substitute

Words people most associate with “substitute”:

  1. teacher,
  2. change,
  3. prostitute

[via wordassociation.org]

Noun (3 meanings)

1. a person or thing that takes or can take the place of another.

substitute, replacement

substitute is a type of:
  • equivalent (noun) - a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc
types of substitute:
  • ersatz (noun) - an artificial or inferior substitute or imitation
  • succedaneum (noun) - (medicine) something that can be used as a substitute (especially any medicine that may be taken in place of another)
  • successor (noun) - a thing or person that immediately replaces something or someone
substitute is derivationally related to:

2. an athlete who plays only when a starter on the team is replaced.

substitute, reserve, second-stringer

substitute is a type of:
  • athlete, jock (noun) - a person trained to compete in sports
types of substitute:
  • bench warmer (noun) - (sports) a substitute who seldom plays
  • pinch hitter (noun) - (baseball) a substitute for the regular batter
substitute is a member of:
  • bench (noun) - the reserve players on a team
substitute is derivationally related to:

3. someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult).

stand-in, substitute, relief, reliever, backup, backup man, fill-in

Examples:
  • “the star had a stand-in for dangerous scenes”,
  • “we need extra employees for summer fill-ins”
substitute is a type of:
types of substitute:
substitute is derivationally related to:

Verb (3 meanings)

1. put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items.

to substitute, replace, interchange, exchange

Examples:
  • “the con artist replaced the original with a fake Rembrandt”,
  • “substitute regular milk with fat-free milk”,
  • “synonyms can be interchanged without a changing the context's meaning”
to substitute is a way to:
ways to substitute:
  • to reduce (verb) - simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
  • to retool (verb) - provide (a workshop or factory) with new tools
  • to shift (verb) - move and exchange for another
  • to subrogate (verb) - substitute one creditor for another, as in the case where an insurance company sues the person who caused an accident for the insured
  • to truncate (verb) - replace a corner by a plane
to substitute is derivationally related to:

2. be a substitute.

to substitute, sub, stand in, fill in

Examples:
  • “The young teacher had to substitute for the sick colleague”,
  • “The skim milk substitutes for cream--we are on a strict diet”
to substitute is a way to:
to substitute is derivationally related to:

3. act as a substitute.

to substitute, deputize, deputise, step in

Example:
  • “She stood in for the soprano who suffered from a cold”
to substitute is a way to:
ways to substitute:
  • to cover (verb) - help out by taking someone's place and temporarily assuming his responsibilities
to substitute is derivationally related to:

Adjective (3 meanings)

1. capable of substituting in any of several positions on a team.

utility, substitute

Example:
  • “a utility infielder”
Derivationally related form:
substitute is similar to:
  • secondary (adjective) - being of second rank or importance or value

2. serving or used in place of another.

alternate, alternative, substitute

Example:
  • “an alternative plan”
Derivationally related form:
substitute is similar to:
  • secondary (adjective) - being of second rank or importance or value

3. artificial and inferior.

ersatz, substitute

Examples:
  • “ersatz coffee”,
  • “substitute coffee”
substitute is similar to: