replace
Americanverb (used with object)
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replaces,
present (3rd person singular)
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replaced,
past participle, past
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replacing
present participle
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to assume the former role, position, or function of; substitute for (a person or thing).
Electricity has replaced gas in lighting.
- Synonyms:
- succeed
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to provide a substitute or equivalent in the place of.
to replace a broken dish.
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to restore; return; make good.
to replace a sum of money borrowed.
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to restore to a former or the proper place.
to replace the vase on the table.
verb
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to take the place of; supersede
the manual worker is being replaced by the machine
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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
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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 Supersede implies that that which is replacing another is an improvement: The computer has superseded the typewriter.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
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replaceabilitynoun
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replacernoun
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nonreplaceableadjective
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quasi-replacedadjective
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replaceableadjective
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unreplaceableadjective
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unreplacedadjective
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well-replacedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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replacesimple
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replacessimple
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have replacedperfect
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has replacedperfect
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am replacingprogressive
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are replacingprogressive
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is replacingprogressive
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have been replacingperfect progressive
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has been replacingperfect progressive
Past
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replacedsimple
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had replacedperfect
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was replacingprogressive
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were replacingprogressive
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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?"
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re-
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President Obama's second inaugural address
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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:
The Dodgers’ search to replace Bates begins during a unique offseason.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
"Nuclear is the key area for us to replace coal," he said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
The MOD said it was set to replace its entire Warrior fleet from 2027.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Now, however, a number of startups sell agents designed to replace specific leadership roles, and companies like SaaStr are building their own.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
He noticed it in between thinking of who could possibly replace him.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
"As Turkey increases renewable capacity, it must ensure clean electricity replaces fossil-fuel generation rather than simply meeting additional demand," Kutluay said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
It would separate the decision to recall the official from the choice of who replaces them, creating a second election or appointment process to determine the successor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
Georgia Roche replaces Jenna Foubister at half-back for England women, with Hope Millard stepping up to the bench for their must-win final group game.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
“There won’t be one technology that replaces Starlink,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
Will the scythe who replaces me be as compassionate and fair?
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
A plain wooden door had been replaced with something fancier.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
The company replaced its finance chief weeks after Kreiz decamped to become co-CEO of Skydance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Those golfers were wary of a proposed model that would have replaced the guaranteed contracts and generous tournament purses provided by PIF with promises of equity in the league and an abbreviated schedule.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
The old metaphor of a tree – a single trunk branching into distinct species – has been quietly replaced in the scientific literature.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 5, 2026
A hint of sadness floats across Zara’s eyes before it’s replaced with anger.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
The project also includes replacing the bridge railings, fences and median barrier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
Piccioli was appointed to lead creative direction at Balenciaga in July last year, replacing Demna Gvasalia, who was tapped for a bigger job at Kering’s largest brand, Gucci.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
On Wednesday, the Paris prefecture banned a major protest route, instead replacing it with an authorised route moving eastward away from the centre.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
Rather than replacing the body's natural repair machinery, the approach explored in this study seeks to protect and enhance an existing biological signal.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
Father and Betsie and I were seated around the dining room table, Father replacing watches in their pockets and Betsie doing needlework, our big, black, slightly-Persian cat curled contentedly in her lap.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
