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.

Example sentence
When the lead actress fell ill, her understudy stepped in and delivered a brilliant performance.
Synonyms & related words
- substitute
- stand-in
- replacement
- backup
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