substitute
noun
a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
had been substituting
-
past perfect progressiveof substitute.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
With the death of Mr. Chernenko on March 10, 1985, Mr. Gorbachev, who had been substituting for the ailing leader, moved to disarm the opposition and take power.
From New York Times ● Aug. 30, 2022
The counselor he spoke with had been substituting for the regular counselor, who had more training.
From The Verge ● Jun. 19, 2019
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Evans," he hailed, as he recognized the regular flagman on duty for whom Wacker had been substituting for three days past.
From Bart Stirling's Road to Success Or, The Young Express Agent by Allen Chapman
They had been substituting rotten beams painted to look like stone and iron.
From The Deluge by David Graham Phillips
