Understudying [verb]

Partner, this thing of understudying a football hero is mighty wearing.

Here he is less truculent, less Nietzschian, less self-conscious of understudying and attempting to act the parts of Jove.

She had been engaged, in my little drama, for the part of "leading juvenile," with the privilege of understudying the heroine.

Sent her a note that I was understudying a man named Carter and to mind to pick up her cues.

She's over on the News now, understudying the fashion editor before taking charge, and we lunch together nearly every day.

It was evident that the subaltern was now understudying the Major in his star part of cheering other fellows up.

She was understudying Martha, too, when anyone was sick in the town, and needed nursing or a helping hand.