replace

verb

re·​place ri-ˈplās How to pronounce replace (audio)
replaced; replacing; replaces
Synonyms of replacenext

transitive verb

1
: to restore to a former place or position
replace cards in a file
2
: to take the place of especially as a substitute or successor
3
: to put something new in the place of
replace a worn carpet
replaceable
ri-ˈplā-sə-bəl How to pronounce replace (audio)
adjective
replacer noun

Synonyms of replace

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replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.

replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.

replaced the broken window

displace implies an ousting or dislodging.

war had displaced thousands

supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.

was abruptly supplanted in her affections by another

supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.

the new edition supersedes all previous ones

Examples of replace in a Sentence

Will computers ever completely replace books? Paper bags have been largely replaced by plastic bags. She was hired to replace the previous manager. I replaced the old rug with a new one. They recently replaced the old phone system. The team's manager was replaced last season. The patient needed a transfusion to replace lost blood. They've appointed a new minister to replace the one who just retired. I guess it's finally time to replace the stove. He carefully replaced the vase on the shelf.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When glamour replaced natural as the look of choice, hair—and its power to call attention, decorate, and define—gained new potency. — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 Supplements should complement a healthy diet, not replace it. — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026 Gary residents can receive assistance from the Legacy Foundation to replace their weatherheads, Melton added. — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 In 1992, Farr made his Broadway debut, replacing Nathan Lane as Nathan Detroit in the revival of Guys and Dolls. — Rachel Flynn, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for replace

Word History

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of replace was in 1587

Rhymes for replace

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Browse Nearby Words

repla
replace
replaceability
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Cite this Entry

“Replace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/replace. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

replace

verb
re·​place ri-ˈplās How to pronounce replace (audio)
1
: to put back in a proper or former place
replace a card in a file
2
: to take the place of
paper money has replaced gold coins
3
: to put something new in the place of
replace a broken dish
replaceable
-ˈplā-sə-bəl How to pronounce replace (audio)
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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