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 Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter.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

The unit said Maersk is “aligned with the Republic of Panama” in a campaign against it and a plan to replace it “through a takeover that installed new port operators.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The Iowa-based convenience store chain will replace medical technology company Hologic in the S&P 500 before trading opens on Thursday, S&P Dow Jones Indices said.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

The festival also added a combo of Skrillex, Fred Again.. and Four Tet to replace the absent headliner.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Since Hologic is a healthcare business, the committee may choose to replace it with another company in the sector.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

“I’ll have to hire three new guys to replace him,” Uncle Bob had said.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

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