Meaning
Supplant means to take the place of something or someone, often by force, strategy, or superiority. It usually implies replacing something older, weaker, or less effective with something new or stronger.
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Verb
- Transitive: requires an object (supplant an old system, supplant a leader)
- More formal and literary; less common in everyday conversation.
Typical structures:
- supplant something/someone
- supplant by/with (passive forms often used in business, politics, and history)
Common Phrases
- supplant a system – to replace an old system with a new one.
- supplant a leader – to overthrow or replace a leader.
- supplant tradition – to take over from an old custom.
- supplant competitors – to replace rivals in business or industry.
Collocations
- verb + supplant: attempt to supplant, seek to supplant, manage to supplant
- noun + supplant: supplant technology, supplant leader, supplant practice
- adverb + supplant: completely supplant, eventually supplant, gradually supplant
Examples
- Smartphones have supplanted traditional cameras for most people.
- The new manager quickly supplanted the old leadership style.
- Streaming services are gradually supplanting cable television.
- Renewable energy sources aim to supplant fossil fuels in the future.
- His ambition was to supplant his rival as team captain.
- Online shopping has supplanted many physical retail stores.
- The new technology is expected to supplant outdated methods.
- English has supplanted many local dialects in international communication.
Synonyms or Related
- replace
- overthrow
- usurp
- supersede
- displace
- oust