Serving one's stead is an old expression that means to act as a substitute for someone. There are many synonyms that can be used in place of this phrase, including taking someone's place, standing in for someone, acting as a proxy, filling in for someone, and acting as a surrogate. Each of these synonyms conveys the idea that someone is taking on a role or responsibility that normally belongs to someone else. It can be helpful to use synonyms like these when writing to avoid repetition and add variety to your language. Additionally, they can provide more clarity and precision to your communication.