substitute
Definitions
A person or thing acting or used in place of another
替代品，替代者
To use or put in place of another
用……代替
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedsub- (under, in place of) + stitut (from statuere 'to set up') = 'to set up in place of.' A substitute is set up underneath/in the slot another would fill: a substitute teacher steps into the regular teacher's place. The -stitut- is statuere, the same root as in constitute and institute.
Root st still carries 376 more wordsWhy It Means This
Watch the construction: you substitute B for A (put B in A's place), or substitute A with B. Mixing these up is the most common error — substitute butter for oil means butter goes in, oil goes out.
Usage Guide
Note the tricky preposition: 'substitute X for Y' = use X instead of Y (X is the newcomer). In sports, a substitute is a benched player brought on. As a noun, 'a substitute for' something means an equivalent replacement.
Example Sentences
- 1.
You can substitute honey for sugar in this recipe.
- 2.
There is no substitute for hard work.
- 3.
The coach brought on a substitute in the second half.