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Definition of substitute verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

substitute

verb
 OPAL W
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt/
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtuːt/
[intransitive, transitive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they substitute
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt/
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtuːt/
he / she / it substitutes
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtjuːts/
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtuːts/
past simple substituted
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtjuːtɪd/
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtuːtɪd/
past participle substituted
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtjuːtɪd/
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtuːtɪd/
-ing form substituting
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtjuːtɪŋ/
 
/ˈsʌbstɪtuːtɪŋ/
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  1. to take the place of somebody/something else; to use somebody/something instead of somebody/something else
    • substitute for somebody/something Nothing can substitute for the advice your doctor is able to give you.
    • Can you find someone to substitute for you at the meeting?
    • substitute A for B Margarine can be substituted for butter in this recipe.
    • substitute B with/by A Butter can be substituted with margarine in this recipe.
    • substitute somebody/something Kane was substituted in the second half after a knee injury (= somebody else played instead of Kane in the second half).
    When for, with or by are not used, as in the last example, it can be difficult to tell whether the person or thing mentioned is being used, or has been replaced by somebody or something else. The context will usually make this clear.
    Word Originlate Middle English (denoting a deputy or delegate): from Latin substitutus ‘put in place of’, past participle of substituere, based on statuere ‘set up’.
See substitute in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee substitute in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: substitute

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previously
adverb
 
 
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