noun
Common
sub
suhb
Sub (noun) means a submarine (informal shortening). Example: “The sub surfaced a few miles offshore.”
noun
1
A submarine (informal shortening).
"The sub surfaced a few miles offshore."
"The sailors spent six months living inside a sub deep under the ocean."
"A toy sub floated in the bath beside the rubber duck."
2
A substitute, especially a teacher or sports player standing in for another.
"We had a sub for math class today."
"The striker was injured, so the team brought on a sub."
"Our usual teacher was ill, so a sub took the lesson instead."
verb
1
To act as a substitute for someone.
"She subbed for the regular teacher while he was ill."
"I'll sub for you at the front desk while you take your break."
"He subbed for the singer when she lost her voice."
2
To replace one player with another during a game.
"The coach subbed him out in the second half."
"The manager decided to sub the tired midfielder after seventy minutes."
"They subbed off their goalkeeper because of a sore ankle."
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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- subs
- Past tense
- subbed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ surfaced a few miles offshore.
Etymology
A shortened form of various words beginning with "sub-," such as submarine, substitute, and subscription.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “sub” mean?
The word “sub” means a submarine (informal shortening). In plain terms, an informal shorthand that can mean submarine, substitute, or subscription depending on context.
How do you pronounce “sub”?
“Sub” is pronounced suhb (/sʌb/ in IPA).
How do you use “sub” in a sentence?
Here is “sub” used in a sentence: “The sub surfaced a few miles offshore.”
What part of speech is “sub”?
Depending on how it is used, “sub” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “sub” a common word?
“Sub” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sub” have?
“Sub” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a submarine (informal shortening).
What does 'sub' stand for?
In this sense, 'sub' is an informal shortening of 'submarine' — a ship designed to operate underwater. It is the everyday, conversational form, common in news, film, and casual speech, while 'submarine' is the full, formal term used in technical and official writing.
What are the other meanings of 'sub'?
'Sub' is a busy little word. Beyond submarine, it can mean a substitute (a stand-in teacher or player), a submarine sandwich, a subscription or subscriber, or a subordinate. Context usually makes the meaning clear, but on its own 'sub' is genuinely ambiguous.
Is 'sub' formal or informal?
'Sub' meaning submarine is informal. In casual conversation, headlines, or fiction it reads naturally, but formal, technical, or official documents use the full word 'submarine'. Think of it the way 'phone' relates to 'telephone' — the same thing, just relaxed and shortened for everyday use.
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