replace
Americanverb (used with object)
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replaces,
present (3rd person singular)
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replaced,
past participle, past
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replacing
present participle
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to assume the former role, position, or function of; substitute for (a person or thing).
Electricity has replaced gas in lighting.
- Synonyms:
- succeed
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to provide a substitute or equivalent in the place of.
to replace a broken dish.
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to restore; return; make good.
to replace a sum of money borrowed.
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to restore to a former or the proper place.
to replace the vase on the table.
verb
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to take the place of; supersede
the manual worker is being replaced by the machine
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to substitute a person or thing for (another which has ceased to fulfil its function); put in place of
to replace an old pair of shoes
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to put back or return; restore to its rightful place
Synonym Usage
Replace, supersede, supplant refer to putting one thing or person in place of another. To replace is to take the place of, to succeed: Ms. Jones will replace Mr. Smith as president. Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter. Supplant implies that that which takes the other's place has ousted the former holder and usurped the position or function, especially by art or fraud: to supplant a former favorite.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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replaceabilitynoun
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replacernoun
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nonreplaceableadjective
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quasi-replacedadjective
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replaceableadjective
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unreplaceableadjective
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unreplacedadjective
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well-replacedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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replacesimple
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replacessimple
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have replacedperfect
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has replacedperfect
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am replacingprogressive
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are replacingprogressive
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is replacingprogressive
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have been replacingperfect progressive
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has been replacingperfect progressive
Past
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replacedsimple
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had replacedperfect
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was replacingprogressive
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were replacingprogressive
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had been replacingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of replace
Explanation
Is your pen not working? Maybe you need to replace it. To replace is to substitute one thing for another — in this case, to get a new pen and throw the old one away. When you see the word place in it, replace makes sense: replacing is putting something new in place of something old. We need to replace most things at some point: light bulbs burn out and batteries run out, while computers, cars, and socks wear out. When something stops working or is just worn out and old, it might be time to replace it. It's natural to worry that your boss might want to replace you — i.e., fire you and hire someone else. Some things in life cannot be replaced, like a winning lottery ticket or a friend.
Vocabulary lists containing replace
"How Do We Use Water?"
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re-
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President Obama's second inaugural address
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who was a longtime listener of Limbaugh’s show, initially didn’t think anyone could replace him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Rather than simply replace Salah, Liverpool's strategy has been to find a way to get goals from the wide positions and elsewhere rather that focus on one single player to replace the Egyptian.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
To be sure, China has little ability, or desire, to replace the U.S.’s all-encompassing role in the Middle East.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
The latest bills would replace the state’s current ban on community colleges offering any bachelor’s degree already taught at California State University or University of California campuses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
“And for you, Panchito, we got you this new bust of Jesus Christ to replace the one that’s chipped,” she said.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
"Amazon overrides and replaces the actual auction results with higher prices set by Amazon to increase its profits," says a complaint filed in the company's home state of Washington.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Crowns can also be used to support a dental bridge, which replaces a missing tooth.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026
Reiner, 32, made a brief appearance on the 13th floor of downtown Los Angeles’ criminal courts building on the newly released indictment, which replaces the original murder counts filed in 2025.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, 72, a low-key yet longtime high-ranking intelligence operative, as secretary of the council.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
I tell myself it isn’t possible, and the woman replaces the girl on the porch.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
Bouaddi replaced Anderson against Palace and his short cameo came soon after the introduction of Mateo Kovacic.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
Dame Priti Patel was replaced by Tom Tugendhat, it says, after she moved into a new "international" role for the party.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
When the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaced Nafta in 2020, Alvin thought the new changes were also wise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
The index fund is a huge improvement over much of what it replaced; Vanguard estimates indexing has saved private investors $570 billion in fund management fees just since 2000.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
They locked the safe, replaced the floorboards and straightened the runner over them.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
The administration demolished the old East Wing last year and began replacing it with a new structure that includes an underground military installation and an aboveground ballroom.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
The handover ends Tim Cook's 15-year run, replacing the operations specialist who built Apple's supply chain with the engineer who built its hardware.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
Phil’s new music director, replacing Gustavo Dudamel, starting with the 2027–28 season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
Cybersecurity experts say companies should be gearing up now for a quantum future, replacing the current crop of data-protection tools with more-secure alternatives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Liam finished replacing the tire with the spare faster than I thought possible.
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
