Synonyms

replace

American

[ri-pleys] / rɪˈpleɪs /

verb (used with object)

replaced, replacing

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

Electricity has replaced gas in lighting.

Synonyms:

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

to replace a broken dish.
to restore; return; make good.

to replace a sum of money borrowed.

Synonyms:

repay, refund
to restore to a former or the proper place.

to replace the vase on the table.

replace British

/ rɪˈpleɪs /

verb

to take the place of; supersede

the manual worker is being replaced by the machine
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
to put back or return; restore to its rightful place

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

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 Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter.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

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

Etymology

Origin of replace

First recorded in 1585–95; re- + place

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.

Party leaders did coalesce behind one of the Democrats running to replace Pelosi, Scott Wiener, a liberal state senator who is vying be the first openly gay person to represent San Francisco in Congress.

From Los Angeles Times

It said it would be replacing Fink with Amit Banati, an existing board member with a background in consumer products, effective in May.

From The Wall Street Journal

Against Forest he was replaced by Rio Ngumoha, who put in the cross that led to Mac Allister's disallowed goal, and once again showed exactly why he's so highly rated with an energetic performance.

From BBC

France went back to the top of the Six Nations table after Scotland had replaced them with a comeback 26-23 win over Wales on Saturday.

From Barron's

Tottenham are just four points above the relegation zone as their winless league run extended to a ninth match in interim boss Igor Tudor's first game since replacing the sacked Thomas Frank.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023