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replacer

to put back, to reposition

verb ruh-plah-SEH Rare
Grammar & Structure

Also means

to put in context

Usage Note

Replacer means to return something to its place (replacer un livre sur l'étagère) or, figuratively, to contextualise something (replacer un événement dans son contexte). The second sense is very common in academic and journalistic writing. It differs from remplacer (to replace, to substitute), which learners frequently confuse with it.

Examples

"Il faut replacer cet événement dans son contexte."

Natural Translation

This event must be put back in its context.

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