replace
Americanverb (used with object)
-
replaces,
present (3rd person singular)
-
replaced,
past participle, past
-
replacing
present participle
-
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.
-
to restore to a former or the proper place.
to replace the vase on the table.
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
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 Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter.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
-
replaceabilitynoun
-
replacernoun
-
nonreplaceableadjective
-
quasi-replacedadjective
-
replaceableadjective
-
unreplaceableadjective
-
unreplacedadjective
-
well-replacedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
replacesimple
-
replacessimple
-
have replacedperfect
-
has replacedperfect
-
am replacingprogressive
-
are replacingprogressive
-
is replacingprogressive
-
have been replacingperfect progressive
-
has been replacingperfect progressive
Past
-
replacedsimple
-
had replacedperfect
-
was replacingprogressive
-
were replacingprogressive
-
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?"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
re-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
President Obama's second inaugural address
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Under the agreement, the company would also replace thousands of body-worn cameras, supply new Tasers, provide cloud video storage, and roll out a program that uses artificial intelligence to assist officers in writing police reports.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
It will take time for countries to repair oil fields and refineries and for the market to replace the hundreds of millions of oil barrels lost to the war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Some companies are also looking to see if they can replace certain jobs, especially entry-level ones typically filled by young employees, with automation or AI.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 3, 2026
However, she noted the "knock on effect to creative industries and people working in this space. I would never like to see AI completely replace" the artistry and creativity of humans.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Humans had stopped wearing the eyepieces long ago, so he’d never find one to replace it.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
This new record replaces the record set after 5 months of new record-highs in 2025, says the EIA.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
In effect, the system replaces a computationally demanding digital decoding network with a physical process that can handle many streams in parallel.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
"We hope that whatever replaces the X2 is safe."
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
“We believe this pressure is likely to broaden as agentic AI increasingly replaces human search, comparison and routine decision making,” Pivotal Research Group analyst Jeff Wlodarczak wrote in a Monday note.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
“It’s what they call someone who replaces an actor if he can’t perform for some reason,” answered Mom.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
The Bank said the move was primarily to stop counterfeiting so all images needed to be replaced on banknotes over time.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Appel replaced it, but under his own plan, and handed it over with child-protection monitoring software installed.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
Accused of “moral failure” by the fellowship, Bakker resigned and Falwell replaced him as president of PTL.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Most agree that Devon and Expand won’t be easily replaced.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The outdoor furniture is in the process of being replaced, so there’s nowhere to sit.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
Tuchel highlighted England's 'counter-movements' as part of their improvement and the swapping and replacing of zones between Hall and Anthony Gordon have been a good example of this.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The club were bottom with just two points after five games in 2008-09 but, after replacing manager Juande Ramos with Harry Redknapp three games later, still finished in the top half.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Once the disease becomes severe, replacing the damaged joint surgically may be the only remaining option.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026
Almost 70% were concerned about AI replacing jobs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Shifa picked up the empty glass bottle and slipped the scroll in, replacing the cork tightly.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
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.
