replace

[ri-pleys]

verb (used with object)

replaced, replacing 

1. to assume the former role, position, or function of; substitute for (a person or thing).

   Electricity has replaced gas in lighting.

   Synonyms: succeed

2. to provide a substitute or equivalent in the place of.

   to replace a broken dish.

3. to restore; return; make good.

   to replace a sum of money borrowed.

   Synonyms: repay, refund

4. to restore to a former or the proper place.

   to replace the vase on the table.

replace

/ rɪˈpleɪs /

verb

1. to take the place of; supersede

   the manual worker is being replaced by the machine

2. 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

3. to put back or return; restore to its rightful place

Other Word Forms

• replaceable adjective
• replaceability noun
• replacer noun
• nonreplaceable adjective
• quasi-replaced adjective
• unreplaceable adjective
• unreplaced adjective
• well-replaced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of replace¹

First recorded in 1585–95; re- + place

Synonym Study

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 Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter.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.

Example Sentences

A website that replaced bonus content for a children's book series with explicit material has been taken down after prompting a school alert.

Read more on BBC

There has also been speculation that the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is considering replacing it.

Read more on BBC

Human relationships with wealth managers are hard to replace.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Many sported stickers on their shirts with the words “They’re returning,” in reference to the hostages, replacing stickers that had before depicted the number of days they had spent in captivity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Let’s replace Broadway with a bunch of rinks—and ask Stanley Cup hockey teams to send us all into the riveted rapture.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• change 
• follow 
• oust 
• recover 
• reinstate 
• restore 
• succeed 
• supplant 
• supply 
• take over 
• take over from www.thesaurus.com