代 (dài) as a verb means 'to substitute or replace' — shorter and more general than 顶 (dǐng, which often implies withstanding or temporary replacement) or 替补 (tì bǔ, a formal substitute in roles like sports). As a noun, it covers 'generation, dynasty, or era', broader than 年代 (nián dài, a decade within a century) or 时代 (shí dài, a longer epoch), and 王朝 (wáng cháo) is the full word for a ruling dynasty.