understudy

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.

Reece James is the England number one but Livramento is a very good understudy.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

He snatched provisional top spot in beautiful, sunny conditions, but could only watch with bated breath as his understudy took to the start hut.

From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026

That was also when the Seahawks understood that Smith-Njigba was underutilized as Metcalf’s understudy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

After years of working at the venue, the unlikely understudy took centre stage in the dame role of Sherie Trifle at the near sold-out performance.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

Things get complicated when a pronoun, like any good understudy, takes on different guises, depending on the roles it plays in the sentence.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner