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Interchange vs Substitute - What's the difference?

interchange | substitute |

In transitive terms the difference between interchange and substitute

is that interchange is to alternate; to intermingle or vary while substitute is in the phrase "substitute X with/by Y", to use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y.

In intransitive terms the difference between interchange and substitute

is that interchange is to swap or change places while substitute is to serve as a replacement (for someone or something.

interchange

English

Verb

(interchang)
  • to switch (each of two things)
  • to interchange places
  • to mutually give and receive (something); to exchange
  • * Shakespeare
  • I shall interchange / My waned state for Henry's regal crown.
  • to swap or change places
  • to alternate; to intermingle or vary
  • to interchange cares with pleasures

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of interchanging.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=October 29 , author=Neil Johnston , title=Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=That was one of three superb saves Hennessey made in the opening 45 minutes, the best of which was from Dzeko, who had been released by a slick interchange involving Silva and Sergio Aguero.}}
  • A highway junction in which traffic may change from one road to another without crossing a stream of traffic.
  • (rail transport) A connection between two or more lines, services or modes of transport; a station at which such a connection can be made.
  • Holborn tube station is the only interchange between the London Underground Central and Piccadilly Lines

    Usage notes

    Generally the rail transport sense of "interchange" applies to connections within the same station, or from two close-by stations. Sometimes, especially within the context of public transport in London, "interchange" is restricted to within-station connections only with (outerchange) used for those that involve leaving the station.

    Antonyms

    * (rail transport) outerchange

    substitute

    English

    Verb

    (substitut)
  • To use in place of something else, with the same function.
  • I had no shallots so I substituted onion.
  • In the phrase "substitute X for Y", to use X in place of Y. With increasing frequency used in the semantically opposite sense (see the OED's notes).
  • I had to substitute new parts for the old ones.
  • In the phrase "substitute X with/by Y", to use Y in place of X; to replace X with Y
  • I had to substitute old parts with the new ones. (This usage was formerly proscribed.)
  • (sports) To remove (a player) from the field of play and bring on another in his place.
  • He was playing poorly and was substituted after twenty minutes
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=April 11 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Mario Balotelli replaced Tevez but his contribution was so negligible that he suffered the indignity of being substituted himself as time ran out, a development that encapsulated a wretched 90 minutes for City and boss Roberto Mancini. }}
  • To serve as a replacement (for someone or something)
  • * 1987 , , Essays in Economics, Vol. 2 , p. 75
  • Accumulation of wealth by this route may substitute for personal saving.

    Usage notes

    The verb "to substitute" can be used transitively in two opposite ways. "To substitute X" may mean either "use X in place of something else" (as in definitions 1 and 2), or "use something else in place of X" (as in definitions 3 and 4). The latter use is more recent, but it is widespread and now generally accepted (see the COED's note on the matter). However, if the indirect object (the "something else") is omitted, the preposition is also omitted, and the reader or hearer cannot tell which sense is meant: * "Substitute butter for olive oil" = Use butter instead of olive oil * "Substitute olive oil for butter" = Use olive oil instead of butter * "Substitute butter" = ??? * "Substitute olive oil" = ???

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A replacement or stand-in for something that achieves a similar result or purpose.
  • * De Quincey
  • Ladies [in Shakespeare's age] wore masks as the sole substitute known to our ancestors for the modern parasol.
  • (sports) A player who is available to replace another if the need arises, and who may or may not actually do so.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=David Ornstein , title=Macc Tel-Aviv 1 - 2 Stoke , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Dean Whitehead opened the scoring shortly after the break with a low finish and substitute Peter Crouch sealed the win with a tap-in.}}
  • (historical) One who enlists for military service in the place of a conscript.
  • Synonyms

    * See also