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Synonyms

stand in for

Idioms  

  1. Substitute for, as in He's kindly agreed to stand in for me at the reception. [Early 1900s]

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.

This allowed closely related groups to stand in for species that were not directly included.

From Science Daily • May 2, 2026

We’re tapping digital buttons that now stand in for physical buttons that once stood in for a mechanical method for interacting with a complex system.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

A spoonful of miso whisked into broth or a can of beans folded in at the right moment can stand in for hours of slow development.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

VK says Max will soon integrate so many services that it can stand in for the internet itself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

William R. Mead had come from New York to stand in for his grieving partner, McKim.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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.