Replace: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you need to put something new in the place of something old or damaged.

• The mechanic will replace the car's old engine with a new one.
• She had to replace her broken phone.

Used when one thing is used in place of another, especially in situations involving temporary or less ideal replacements.

• You can substitute honey for sugar in this recipe.
• The teacher is out sick, so we have a substitute teacher today.

Use when talking about giving something and receiving something else in return.

• Let's exchange phone numbers to stay in touch.
• He exchanged his dollars for euros at the airport.

Commonly used in casual contexts when two or more parties trade items or positions.

• Let's swap seats so you can have a better view.
• They decided to swap houses for their vacation.

Appropriate when talking about taking turns or switching between two things regularly.

• I like to alternate between reading fiction and non-fiction books.
• They alternate shifts to cover the 24-hour schedule.

General term used to indicate that something or someone is taking the position or function of another thing or person.

• We need to replace the old batteries
• John is going to replace Susan when she’s on vacation

Commonly used in academic, sports, and general contexts where one thing or person temporarily takes the place of another.

• The teacher had a substitute for the day
• If we run out of sugar, honey can be a good substitute

Often refers to a person who temporarily takes the place of another, especially in performance or production scenarios.

• She worked as a stand-in for the lead actress
• We need a stand-in for the meeting while Michael is away

Used when referring to a secondary option or support that is ready to be used if the primary option fails.

• Do you have a backup plan for the event? Make sure to save a backup copy of your report