understudy

noun/ˈʌndərˌstʌdi/

Frequency rank: #16,514 most common English word

Meaning

A person who learns another's role in order to be able to act as a replacement if necessary.

Illustration for the English word “understudy”

Example sentence

When the lead actress fell ill, her understudy stepped in and delivered a brilliant performance.

Synonyms & related words

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