English Reference
noun · verb

sub

n. · v.
US /ˈsəb/ UK /sˈʌb/ sub UK spelling subbed, subbing, subs

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Informal Sport

    n.a person who takes the place of another, especially a player in a game or a temporary teacher.

    n.A substitute, typically referring to an athlete who replaces another during a match or a teacher covering a class.

    Simple

    The coach decided to bring on a sub for the last ten minutes of the game.

    In context

    The regular chemistry teacher was out on medical leave, so a sub had to manage the laboratory session.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    n.a ship that can travel underwater.

    n.A submarine; a naval vessel capable of independent operation underwater.

    Simple

    The crew spent three months living on the sub without seeing daylight.

    In context

    The sonar technician detected a faint signal that suggested an enemy sub was patrolling the perimeter of the bay.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate American EnglishInformal Cooking

    n.a long bread roll filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables.

    n.A submarine sandwich; a large sandwich consisting of a long roll split lengthwise and filled with various ingredients.

    Simple

    I grabbed a turkey sub from the deli for lunch.

    In context

    The local deli is famous for its massive Italian sub, which is packed with four different types of cured meat.

    hoagiegrinderhero
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate British EnglishInformal

    n.a regular payment you make to a club or for a service like a magazine or website.

    n.A subscription; a formal agreement to receive a service or support an organization through periodic payments.

    Simple

    I need to pay my annual sub for the tennis club this week.

    In context

    The magazine's digital subs have increased significantly since they introduced the new mobile application.

  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    n.the text at the bottom of a screen that shows what people are saying.

    n.A subtitle; text displayed at the bottom of a cinema or television screen that translates or transcribes the dialogue.

    Simple

    I usually watch foreign films with the subs turned on.

    In context

    The fan-made subs for the anime were much more accurate than the official translation provided by the studio.

  6. 06 B2 Upper Intermediate Slang Computing

    n.a specific area or community on the website Reddit.

    n.A subreddit; a specific online forum or community dedicated to a particular topic on the social news website Reddit.

    Simple

    There is a great sub for people who love gardening and sharing tips.

    In context

    The moderator of the sub had to ban several users for violating the community's strict posting guidelines.

  7. 07 B1 Intermediate Informal

    v.to take someone's place or to put a new person into a game.

    v.To act as a substitute or to replace one person with another, particularly in a professional or athletic context.

    Simple

    Can you sub for me at the meeting tomorrow afternoon?

    In context

    The manager decided to sub the exhausted striker in the final minutes of the championship match.

  8. 08 B2 Upper Intermediate Slang Computing

    v.to sign up for a service or follow a creator online.

    v.To subscribe to a channel, service, or publication, especially in the context of digital content creators.

    Simple

    Don't forget to like this video and sub to my channel.

    In context

    The YouTuber encouraged his viewers to sub so they wouldn't miss the upcoming documentary series.

    followsign up
    unsubscribe

The two only shared the field in the first game against Peru; against Uruguay, Messi came on as a sub for González in the second half.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

Etymology 1

* Shortened form of any of various words beginning with sub-.

Etymology 2

From Latin sub.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated