INDEX:
1. to start doing a job that someone else used to do
2. to do someone’s job or work for a temporary period
3. someone who replaces another person
4. to put someone into someone else’s job
5. to replace an older type of machine, method etc
6. to put something new in the place of something old, damaged, or broken
7. to use one thing instead of something else or change one thing for another
RELATED WORDS
instead of someone or something else : ↑ INSTEAD
to put something where it was before : ↑ PUT (2)
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1. to start doing a job that someone else used to do
▷ replace /rɪˈpleɪs/ [transitive verb]
▪ We’re looking for someone to replace our managing director.
▪ The lead singer was replaced by Ray Willis back in 1992.
▪ It was Johnson’s first season after replacing Tom Landry as coach of the Cowboys.
▷ succeed /səkˈsiːd/ [transitive verb]
to be the next person to have a job or position, especially an important or powerful position, after someone else has left it or died :
▪ The President appointed Harold Brown to succeed Les Aspin as chairman of the Commission in 1995.
▪ George VI died in 1952, leaving his elder daughter Elizabeth to succeed him.
▷ take somebody’s place/take the place of somebody /ˌteɪk somebodyˈs ˈpleɪs, ˌteɪk ðə ˈpleɪs əv somebody/ [verb phrase]
to replace someone in a job or position, especially because you have similar skills and experience to them :
▪ There’s no one suitable to take Simon’s place when he leaves.
▪ If Mark fails to qualify as a trainee, Margaret is designated to take his place.
▪ Thielen will take the place of Ray Owens on the board following Owens’s retirement.
▷ take over /ˌteɪk ˈəʊvəʳ/ [intransitive/transitive phrasal verb]
to replace someone in a job or position, and to continue the work they started :
▪ The new manager took over in July.
take over from/for
▪ Do you think you’d be able to take over me when I’m gone?
▪ The attorney general of New Jersey took over from the local district attorney in the case.
take over as
▪ We’re pleased to announce that Mr. Schmidt will be taking over as Executive Director.
take over something (from somebody)
▪ Glover’s understudy took over the role on Broadway.
take something over (from somebody)
▪ Maria’s been my partner since I took the business over from my father.
▷ supplant /səˈplɑːntǁsəˈplænt/ [transitive verb]
to replace a competitor or enemy in a position of authority or influence, especially by using unfair methods :
▪ General Salan was supplanted soon after the invasion by General Henri Navarre.
▪ Adams, an excellent new pitcher, may supplant Hayes as starting pitcher by the end of the year.
2. to do someone’s job or work for a temporary period
▷ stand in for /ˌstænd ˈɪn fəʳ somebody/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to replace someone at work for a short time or on a particular occasion, because they are unable to be there :
▪ Can you stand in for me at the meeting next week?
▪ The President was unavailable and had the Vice President stand in for him.
▪ During the dangerous scenes, a stunt woman stood in for Goldie Hawn.
▷ take over /ˌteɪk ˈəʊvəʳ/ [intransitive/transitive phrasal verb]
to replace someone and do the same job as they were doing, so that they are free to have a rest or to do something else :
▪ Liz, could you take over in reception while I make a couple of phone calls?
take over from/for
▪ Can I see you in my office, Carl? I’m sure Dan can take over from you.
take over something
▪ After we’d stopped for lunch Sheila took over the driving for a while.
▷ deputize also deputise /ˈdepjɑtaɪz/ [intransitive verb] British
to replace someone in a higher position for a limited period or on a particular occasion, especially when they are busy doing something else :
▪ My boss had to go to the Caribbean unexpectedly and asked me to deputize.
deputize for
▪ The Foreign Minister will be deputizing for the Prime Minister while he recovers from his operation.
▪ Paine, the second in command, deputized for the Colonel.
▷ sub for /ˈsʌb fəʳ somebody/ [transitive phrasal verb] American informal
to replace someone at work on a particular occasion, especially as a teacher or a member of a sports team :
▪ Could you sub for me Monday? I have a doctor’s appointment.
▪ Eisenreich subbed for the injured Alou in Wednesday’s game.
▷ relieve /rɪˈliːv/ [transitive verb]
to replace someone, especially a soldier, when they need a rest or when they have completed their hours of work :
▪ Can anyone relieve Tammy? She’s been on duty for ten hours without a break.
▪ He was sent to Cairo to relieve Captain Roberts for a few days.
▷ cover for /ˈkʌvəʳ fəʳ somebody/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to do the work, or to be ready to do the work, of someone who is absent :
▪ Go and get some lunch. I’ll cover for you.
▪ My name’s Dr Brown. I’m covering for Dr Steele while he’s on holiday.
3. someone who replaces another person
▷ replacement /rɪˈpleɪsmənt/ [countable noun]
someone who replaces another person in a job or in a team, especially permanently :
▪ Steve just announced he was leaving, but the coach has already started looking around for a replacement.
replacement for
▪ I’m just a temporary replacement for the receptionist.
▪ They asked Barbara to stay on until they could find a suitable replacement for her.
▷ successor /səkˈsesəʳ/ [countable noun]
the next person to have a permanent job or position after someone else has left it :
▪ Mason is Case’s chosen successor as committee chairman.
▪ Smyth resigned as Chief Superintendent two months ago and they still haven’t appointed his successor.
successor to
▪ The Orchestra is currently searching for a successor to music director James Sedares.
▷ stand-in /ˈstænd ɪn/ [countable noun]
someone who temporarily takes another person’s place in a job or performance when they are unable to do it themselves, especially when this happens unexpectedly :
▪ Ms Green couldn’t be here today, so I’m her stand-in.
▪ Ann was Shirley MacLaine’s stand-in in the movie.
stand-in for
▪ I’d like Tom to act as a stand-in for Julian until he returns to work.
▷ substitute also sub informal /ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt, ˈsʌbstətjuːtǁ-tuːt, sʌb/ [countable noun]
someone who takes someone else’s place in a team for a limited period of time, especially because the other person is injured or tired :
▪ If Marsh has not fully recovered, his likely substitute will be Robinson.
▪ With key players out of energy, it was a sub who scored six points in the last two minutes and won the game.
bring somebody on as a substitute for somebody
▪ Ten minutes into the second half Davies was brought on as substitute for Ward.
▷ acting /ˈæktɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
an acting chairman, director, manager is someone who replaces someone in a position of authority for a limited period of time :
▪ While Kershaw was in the hospital Saunders became acting chairman.
▪ Mrs Hamilton has been appointed acting head of the school until a permanent replacement can be found.
▷ supply teacher British /substitute teacher American also sub American informal /səˈplaɪ ˌtiːtʃəʳ, ˈsʌbstə̇tjuːt ˌtiːtʃəʳǁ -tuːt-, sʌb/ [countable noun] informal
a teacher who replaces another teacher for a limited period of time :
▪ We’ll need a sub for Dawn’s class tomorrow.
▪ The kids always misbehave when they have a substitute teacher.
▪ Ray was working as a supply teacher to earn some extra money.
4. to put someone into someone else’s job
▷ replace /rɪˈpleɪs/ [transitive verb]
▪ They still haven’t replaced three of the managers who resigned.
▪ I hate to see Gretchen go - we’ll never be able to replace her.
replace somebody with somebody
▪ The firm has been dismissing experienced staff and replacing them with younger people on lower salaries.
5. to replace an older type of machine, method etc
▷ replace/take the place of /rɪˈpleɪs, ˌteɪk ðə ˈpleɪs ɒv/ [transitive verb/verb phrase]
▪ In most offices, computers have replaced the old typewriters.
▪ One ‘smart card’ can take the place of cash, cheques, and credit cards.
▪ Gas and electricity have almost completely replaced coal for domestic cooking and heating in Britain.
▪ Ugly new concrete buildings have taken the place of the old houses.
▷ supersede /ˌsuːpəʳˈsiːd, ˌsjuː-ǁˌsuː-/ [transitive verb]
if a new invention, idea, or method supersedes another one, it replaces it because it is more modern or effective :
▪ Iron began to supersede bronze for tool making about 3000 years ago.
▪ The computers used to be top of the line, but they have been superseded by more recent models.
▪ It is unlikely that scientific thinking will ever entirely supersede superstition and religion.
▷ give way to /ˌgɪv ˈweɪ tuː/ [verb phrase]
to be gradually replaced by something better, more suitable, or more advanced :
▪ Hunting and fishing settlements gave way to small towns as the population grew.
▪ With the rise in oil prices, big American cars were forced to give way to smaller, more economical models.
6. to put something new in the place of something old, damaged, or broken
▷ replace /rɪˈpleɪs/ [transitive verb]
▪ Your car’s in good condition but you ought to replace the tires.
▪ Before we move in, the place has to be redecorated and all the carpets replaced.
replace something with something
▪ They’re going to replace the old wooden bridge with one made of concrete.
▷ renew /rɪˈnjuːǁrɪˈnuː/ [transitive verb] British
to replace something, such as a piece of machinery or equipment, after it has been used for a certain length of time and is damaged or likely to be damaged :
▪ You should check the engine carefully, renewing any parts that are worn or damaged.
▪ It is wise to renew your water filter every month, even though it may seem to be working satisfactorily.
▷ change /tʃeɪndʒ/ [transitive verb]
to replace a piece of equipment when it is broken or not working :
▪ Can you change this light bulb for me? I can’t reach.
▪ All drivers should really know how to change a flat tire.
▪ You should change or clean your furnace filter once a month to improve performance.
7. to use one thing instead of something else or change one thing for another
▷ substitute /ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt, ˈsʌbstətjuːtǁ-tuːt/ [transitive verb]
to use something new or different instead of something else, especially when cooking :
▪ If plums are difficult to find, figs can be substituted.
substitute something for something
▪ You can substitute margarine for butter in this recipe.
▷ switch/swap /swɪtʃ, swɒpǁswɑːp/ [transitive verb]
to secretly replace two things without someone knowing :
▪ Someone must have switched the suitcases at the airport when I wasn’t paying attention.
switch/swap something for something
▪ Wait till he goes out, then we can swap your book for his.