noun
sub
suhb
noun
1
A submarine (informal shortening).
"The sub surfaced a few miles offshore."
2
A substitute, especially a teacher or sports player standing in for another.
"We had a sub for math class today."
verb
1
To act as a substitute for someone.
"She subbed for the regular teacher while he was ill."
2
To replace one player with another during a game.
"The coach subbed him out in the second half."
How to Use Sub
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal shorthand that can mean submarine, substitute, or subscription depending on context.
Common mistake
Meaning depends heavily on context — sports, school, and internet usage all use "sub" differently.
Common pairings
sub in
sub out
grab a sub
Word Forms
subbed past tense, subbed past tense, subs singular, subs singular
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The _____ surfaced a few miles offshore.
Etymology
A shortened form of various words beginning with "sub-," such as submarine, substitute, and subscription.