Word
subject
Phoneticssub·ject, stress on the first syllable
/ˈsəbdʒɪkt/
Definitions
01topic
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. the thing you are talking, writing, or thinking about.
n. the main theme or topic of a conversation, book, or work of art.
“The subject of the meeting was the new office budget.”
“The documentary explores a difficult subject with great sensitivity, focusing on the lives of families displaced by the recent floods.”
02field of study
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. an area of knowledge that you study at school or university.
n. a branch of knowledge or an academic discipline studied in an educational institution.
“Math was always my favorite subject when I was in high school.”
“Students are encouraged to choose at least one science subject to ensure a well-rounded academic foundation before they specialise.”
Synonyms
03research participant
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Academic
n. a person or animal that is being studied in an experiment.
n. an individual or entity that is the focus of medical, psychological, or scientific testing.
“The subjects in the sleep study were asked to keep a daily journal.”
“Researchers monitored the subjects for six months to determine if the new medication had any long-term side effects on blood pressure.”
Synonyms
04citizen of a monarchy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal
n. a person who lives in a country ruled by a king or queen.
n. a person who resides in a state and owes allegiance to a monarch or sovereign power.
Español:súbdito
“The king addressed his subjects from the balcony of the palace.”
“As a British subject living abroad, he was still entitled to certain protections from the embassy during the crisis.”
05to force an experience
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make someone experience something unpleasant.
v. to cause someone or something to undergo a specific, usually negative, experience or treatment.
“The prisoners were subjected to very cold temperatures during the night.”
“The new aircraft wing was subjected to extreme pressure in the laboratory to ensure it would not fail during a storm.”
Usage
Takes the preposition 'to' followed by a noun.
06depending on
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adj. only happening if something else happens first.
adj. conditional upon or depending on something else.
“The outdoor party is subject to the weather being good on Saturday.”
“The sale of the property is subject to a final building inspection and the approval of the bank loan.”
Usage
Followed by the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
07likely to experience
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. likely to be affected by something, usually something bad.
adj. having a tendency to be affected by or to experience something unpleasant.
Español:sujeto
“This area is subject to flooding during the heavy rain in winter.”
“Flights in this region are often subject to delays because of the unpredictable mountain fog.”
Usage
Followed by the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “subject” in context.
Verb
01. teach subject
“She decided to teach the subject of history at a local high school.”
verb + noun
Adjective
02. human subject
“The medical trial required every human subject to sign a consent form.”
adj + noun
Noun
03. subject receive
“In the experiment, each subject receives a different dose of the medication.”
noun + verb
Real-World Examples
“Pilots at the airline's budget arm, Air India Express, will also be subject to the tests from Thursday.” “There are very few studies on the subject.” “Death changes the relationship between the writer and his subject.” Etymology
From Middle English subget, from Old French suget, from Latin subiectus (“lying under or near, adjacent, also subject, exposed”), as a noun, subiectus (“a subject, an inferior”), subiectum (“the subject of a proposition”), past participle of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”), as a calque of Ancient Greek ὑποκείμενον (hupokeímenon).
From Latin subiectus (“a subject, an inferior”), subiectum (“the subject of a proposition”), past participle of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”).
From Medieval Latin subiectō, iterative of subiciō (“throw, lay, place”), from sub (“under, at the foot of”) + iaciō (“throw, hurl”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/subject
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0