subbed; subbing
: to act as a substitute
1
subaltern
2
subscription
3
subsidiary
4
suburb
1
: under : beneath : below
subsoil
subaqueous
2
a
: subordinate : secondary : next lower than or inferior to
substation
subeditor
b
: subordinate portion of : subdivision of
subcommittee
subspecies
c
: with repetition (as of a process) so as to form, stress, or deal with subordinate parts or relations
sublet
subcontract
3
: less than completely, perfectly, or normally : somewhat
subacute
subclinical
4
a
: almost : nearly
suberect
b
: falling nearly in the category of and often adjoining : bordering on
subarctic
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- backup
- cover
- designated hitter
- fill-in
- locum tenens
- pinch hitter
- relief
- replacement
- reserve
- stand-in
- substitute
Verb
Noun (2)
Examples of sub in a Sentence
Verb
Smith subbed for Jones at halftime.
subbing in a Broadway play
Smith subbed Jones at halftime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Constructed entirely of sturdy steel, the sub features massive viewing windows and a forward observation bubble that provides cinematic vistas of the surrounding ocean.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
Through an elaborate system of volunteer moderators, Reddit allows its communities—called subreddits or subs—to cultivate their own rules, cultures, and protections.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
The sub can also remain firmly planted on the ocean floor for up to seven days, with the onboard batteries providing power for the week.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
The world was gripped as rescuers spent days urgently tracking down the missing sub before oxygen was expected to run out.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024
The subs that Videlock frequented, such as r/asktransgender and r/MtF, were particularly good at fencing out harassment.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Canal+ has also increased its subscriber base to 900,000 new subs, both in France and abroad in 2023.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024
Serial churners have grown from 2020 to 2023 from 6% to 22% of all streaming subs.
—Howard Homonoff, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
On Monday, the 52-year-old musician and Oscar-winning actor subbed in as a host on the beloved game show alongside Vanna White as part of an April Fools’ Day prank.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Some aged rums can also be subbed out for whiskey in cocktails like Manhattans or Old Fashioneds.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
In the first few minutes of the win over Cal State San Bernardino, Crutchfield subbed in five new players.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Adams was subbing in for Bérruz, who was unable to make the trip from his new home in Sonoma County this year.
—Claire O’Callahan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Sabol subbed in for Michael Conforto in left field, doubling and scoring a run in his lone at-bat.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Ham subbed James, Russell and Reaves out with the Lakers trailing 126-111 with 2:13 remaining.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2024
Edwards scored just two points in the first half before emerging in the second half, attacking the rim at will after Jaren Jackson Jr. subbed out with foul trouble.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Jan. 2024
Noun
More than 250 IPAs were submitted to the competition and the hoppy beers were split into five sub-categories, America IPA, Hazy IPA, Experimental IPA, American Double IPA and Hazy Double IPA.
—Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Constructed entirely of sturdy steel, the sub features massive viewing windows and a forward observation bubble that provides cinematic vistas of the surrounding ocean.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
Through an elaborate system of volunteer moderators, Reddit allows its communities—called subreddits or subs—to cultivate their own rules, cultures, and protections.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
The sub can also remain firmly planted on the ocean floor for up to seven days, with the onboard batteries providing power for the week.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 25 Mar. 2024
The world was gripped as rescuers spent days urgently tracking down the missing sub before oxygen was expected to run out.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024
The subs that Videlock frequented, such as r/asktransgender and r/MtF, were particularly good at fencing out harassment.
—Paresh Dave, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024
Canal+ has also increased its subscriber base to 900,000 new subs, both in France and abroad in 2023.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024
Serial churners have grown from 2020 to 2023 from 6% to 22% of all streaming subs.
—Howard Homonoff, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
While executing complex crash and high-speed chase sequences, Summers has doubled for actors such as Sarah Paulson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Ming-Na Wen ; while Bryant has subbed in for Angela Bassett, Regina King and Kerry Washington.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
On Monday, the 52-year-old musician and Oscar-winning actor subbed in as a host on the beloved game show alongside Vanna White as part of an April Fools’ Day prank.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Some aged rums can also be subbed out for whiskey in cocktails like Manhattans or Old Fashioneds.
—Tony Sachs, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2024
In the first few minutes of the win over Cal State San Bernardino, Crutchfield subbed in five new players.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2024
Adams was subbing in for Bérruz, who was unable to make the trip from his new home in Sonoma County this year.
—Claire O’Callahan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Sabol subbed in for Michael Conforto in left field, doubling and scoring a run in his lone at-bat.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
Ham subbed James, Russell and Reaves out with the Lakers trailing 126-111 with 2:13 remaining.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2024
Edwards scored just two points in the first half before emerging in the second half, attacking the rim at will after Jaren Jackson Jr. subbed out with foul trouble.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 19 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sub
Cite this Entry
“Sub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sub. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sub
1 of 4 nounsub
2 of 4 verb
subbed; subbing
: to act as a substitute
sub
3 of 4 nounsub-
4 of 4 prefix1
: under : beneath : below
subsoil
subfreezing
2
a
: being at a lower rank or secondary level
substation
b
: division or lesser part of
subcommittee
subtopic
c
: involving a secondary stage or process
sublet
subcontract
3
: less than completely, perfectly, or typically : somewhat
subdominant
4
: bordering upon
subarctic
Etymology
Prefix
from Latin sub- "under, below"
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