take someone's place
Fill their role
To take someone's place is to substitute for them or assume their position.
You might take someone's place at a meeting when they can't attend, or take someone's place in line while they step away.
The phrase can suggest permanent replacement: After she retired, no one could really take her place.
- inheritReceive from predecessor
- stand-inTemporary human placeholder
- stand in forTemporarily replace someone
- oustRemove from position
- impersonateAssume another's identity
supplant · assume · substitute · understudy · alternate · sit in for · adopt · take over · take the reins · surrogate · deputy · successor · next in line · dethrone · relieve · proxy · succeed · pinch-hit