What does "subscribe" mean?

1. (to pay for a service) to pay money regularly to receive a service, like a magazine, a gym membership, or a streaming app. 2. (to follow online) to sign up for notifications or updates from a person or channel on social media. 3. (to agree with an idea) to believe in or agree with a particular theory, opinion, or way of thinking. 4. (to buy shares) to promise to buy shares in a company or give money to a specific fund. 5. (to sign a document) to write your name at the bottom of a formal paper to show you agree with it.

How do you use "subscribe"?

usually takes the preposition 'to' before the service name. often used without a preposition in digital contexts like 'subscribe to the channel'. almost always used with 'to'. often used in the context of initial public offerings (IPOs).

subscribe

US //səbsˈkɹaɪb// UK //səbskɹˈaɪb// sub·scribe

1 to pay for a service (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to pay money regularly to receive a service, like a magazine, a gym membership, or a streaming app.

to arrange for the regular receipt of a publication or service by paying in advance.

Example

I decided to subscribe to a monthly meal kit service to save time on cooking.

Example

The household opted to subscribe to several premium streaming platforms rather than maintaining a traditional cable television package.

Usage

usually takes the preposition 'to' before the service name.
- sign up
- join
- unsubscribe
- cancel
2 to follow online (v.)
B1 Intermediate Computing

to sign up for notifications or updates from a person or channel on social media.

to register for electronic notifications regarding new content or events from a specific creator or platform.

Example

Don't forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss a new video.

Example

Users who subscribe to the newsletter receive early access to product launches and exclusive discount codes.

Usage

often used without a preposition in digital contexts like 'subscribe to the channel'.
- follow
- track
- unfollow

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3 to agree with an idea (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

to believe in or agree with a particular theory, opinion, or way of thinking.

to give one's consent or approval to an idea, theory, or philosophy.

Example

I don't necessarily subscribe to the idea that money always brings happiness.

Example

While many economists subscribe to this growth model, others argue that it fails to account for environmental degradation.

Usage

almost always used with 'to'.
- reject
- disagree
4 to buy shares (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Technical Business

to promise to buy shares in a company or give money to a specific fund.

to apply for or agree to purchase a specific number of shares in a new issue; to pledge a financial contribution.

Example

Investors were eager to subscribe to the new tech company's stock offering.

Example

The investment bank invited institutional clients to subscribe to the bond issue before it opened to the general public.

Usage

often used in the context of initial public offerings (IPOs).
- invest
- pledge
5 to sign a document (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Archaic Law

to write your name at the bottom of a formal paper to show you agree with it.

to sign one's name at the end of a document as a token of consent, attestation, or witness.

Example

The witnesses were asked to subscribe their names to the will.

Example

The charter was duly subscribed by the governors in the presence of a public notary.

Teacher's tip

This is the original literal meaning (sub- 'under' + scribe 'write'), but it is rarely used in modern speech outside of legal contexts.

Origin

From Middle English subscriben, subskryben, from Latin subscrībere. Compare its native English equivalent underwrite.

Word family

Verbsubscribe
Nounsubscriber
Nounsubscription