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 Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter.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:
That's why Imola is being prepared as a back-up to replace Abu Dhabi if the two races cannot go ahead.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Fluence Energy stock dropped 5.5% after the company said it will replace its CEO, CFO, and institute new oversight of its operations.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
And while it’s good to replace that metaphorical candy with something healthier, we cannot flog ourselves into not needing something sweet to survive the bitter world we live in.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
In October, Insurance Commissioner John King released a proposed waiver amendment that would replace the federal premium tax credit with a Predictable Fixed Credit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
He. didn’t know how much it would cost to replace Refugee, but he knew he didn’t have the money.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
“There won’t be one technology that replaces Starlink,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
And AI should play a growing role in dispensing financial guidance, even if the technology never fully replaces a human adviser, Wurster said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
The show is in its second season, and Kuechly replaces Bill Belichick, who played the defensive counterpart to Manning in Season 1.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Theagreement replaces the "Wheel Deal" system, which rotated the gala among major networks like ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
And now she replaces him with another man just as hollow.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
But she has been helped by controversy on the other side of the aisle involving Graham Platner, who was ultimately replaced as the Democratic nominee by Jackson, a former president of the Maine state senate.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
It felt almost as if Chuck E. Cheese had replaced its animatronic band with several real-life Tejano ones.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
But in 2003, Gray Davis was ousted from office and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Nicola Shaw, who has led the firm since 2022, will leave the role on 1 January to be replaced by Nicola Medalova, a chartered environmental health officer who previously worked for the National Grid.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Her loathing left in a rush, replaced by fury.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
What prompted the letter from Furner is that Walmart is expanding its use of electronic shelf labels, little screens that let employees update prices digitally from a central computer instead of replacing stickers by hand.
From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026
Every new year, her family check their kits and update them if necessary, replacing out-of-date food, for example.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
Okta is slated to join the index on Wednesday, replacing Kenvue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
The findings raise important questions about whether replacing sugar with low-calorie alternatives always delivers the health benefits consumers expect, particularly when it comes to the brain.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
“I like it very much,” Caroline said, replacing it in the box.
From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
