subject
SUHB-jihkt
Subject (noun) means the main topic being discussed, studied, or shown in a work of art. Example: “Climate change was the subject of the panel discussion.”
noun
1
The main topic being discussed, studied, or shown in a work of art.
"Climate change was the subject of the panel discussion."
"History was always her favorite subject at school."
"The painting's subject is a fisherman mending his nets by the harbour."
2
The person or thing a sentence is about — grammatically, the doer of the action.
"In "the dog barked," "the dog" is the subject."
"In the sentence "Maria sang loudly", Maria is the subject."
"Remember that the verb must agree with its subject in number."
3
A person or animal being examined, tested, or treated, especially in an experiment.
"Each subject in the trial received the new medication."
"The researchers asked each subject to complete a short memory test."
"Every subject in the sleep study kept a diary for a fortnight."
4
A citizen or member of a state ruled by a monarch.
"As a subject of the Crown, she carried a British passport."
"Under the old king, every subject had to pay a yearly tax."
"The queen waved kindly to her loyal subjects from the balcony."
adj
1
Likely to experience or be affected by something.
"The coastal town is subject to frequent flooding."
"Flights are subject to delay when there is thick fog at the airport."
"All prices are subject to change without notice."
verb
1
To force someone to go through an experience, usually an unpleasant one.
"The prisoners were subjected to harsh interrogation."
"The new recruits were subjected to a very tiring training day."
"I refuse to subject my children to endless boring lectures."
How to use subject
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: a topic, a grammatical role, a test participant, or someone under a ruler's authority.
Common mistake
As an adjective meaning "liable to," it's always followed by "to" — "subject to delay," not "subject for delay."
Common pairings
subject to change
subject matter
test subject
change the subject
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like subject.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- subjects
- Third person singular
- subjects
- Past tense
- subjected
- Comparative
- more subject
- Superlative
- most subject
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Climate change was the _____ of the panel discussion.
Etymology
From Latin subiectus, "lying under, placed beneath" — from sub ("under") plus iaciō ("to throw"), so literally "thrown under."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “subject” mean?
The word “subject” means the main topic being discussed, studied, or shown in a work of art. In plain terms, depending on context: a topic, a grammatical role, a test participant, or someone under a ruler's authority.
How do you pronounce “subject”?
“Subject” is pronounced SUHB-jihkt (/ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “subject” in a sentence?
Here is “subject” used in a sentence: “Climate change was the subject of the panel discussion.”
What is another word for “subject”?
Words with a similar meaning to “subject” include underbring.
What part of speech is “subject”?
Depending on how it is used, “subject” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “subject” come from?
The word “subject” comes from Latin. From Latin subiectus, "lying under, placed beneath" — from sub ("under") plus iaciō ("to throw"), so literally "thrown under.".
Is “subject” a common word?
“Subject” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “subject” have?
“Subject” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the main topic being discussed, studied, or shown in a work of art.
What is the difference between a subject and a topic?
The words overlap, but subject is usually broader and topic narrower. A subject is a whole field — history, or a novel's central theme. A topic is a specific point within it, such as the causes of one war. You study a subject and discuss particular topics inside it.
What is the difference between subject and object?
In grammar these are opposites. The subject does the action in a sentence — the dog barked. The object receives it — she kicked the ball. Note that subject has another meaning too: the main topic of a book, talk, or artwork, which is a different sense of the word.
What is an example of a subject in art?
In a painting, the subject is what it mainly depicts — a bowl of fruit in a still life, a person in a portrait, or a storm in a landscape. It is the central focus the artist has chosen to show, around which the rest of the work is arranged.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include subject:
