sub

¹

[ suhb ]

noun

1. a submarine.
2. a substitute:

   We've got a sub in English this week because our teacher's home with the flu.

3. a submarine sandwich.
4. a submissive in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship.
5. a subcontractor.
6. a sublieutenant.
7. a subordinate.
8. a subaltern.
9. British. an advance against one's wages, especially one granted as a subsistence allowance.
10. Photography. a substratum.

verb (used without object)

, subbed, sub·bing.

1. to act as a substitute for another.
2. to act as the submissive partner in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship.

verb (used with object)

, subbed, sub·bing.

1. Photography. to coat (a film or plate) with a substratum.

SUB

²

abbreviation for

1. supplemental unemployment benefits.

sub-

³

1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin ( subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy ); on this model, freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning “under,” “below,” “beneath” ( subalpine; substratum ), “slightly,” “imperfectly,” “nearly” ( subcolumnar; subtropical ), “secondary,” “subordinate” ( subcommittee; subplot ).
2. Chemistry.
   1. a prefix indicating a basic compound:

      subacetate; subcarbonate; subnitrate.

   2. a prefix indicating that the element is present in a relatively small proportion, i.e., in a low oxidation state:

      subchloride; suboxide.

sub.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. subordinated.
2. subscription.
3. substitute.
4. suburb.
5. suburban.
6. subway.

sub

¹

/ sʌb /

noun

1. short for several words beginning with sub- See subaltern subeditor submarine subordinate subscription substandard substitute substratum
2. informal.
   an advance payment of wages or salary Formal termsubsistence allowance

verb

1. intr to serve as a substitute
2. informal.
   intr to act as a substitute (for)
3. informal.
   to grant or receive (an advance payment of wages or salary)
4. informal.
   tr short for subedit
5. tr photog to apply a substratum to (a film or plate base)

sub-

²

prefix

1. situated under or beneath

   subterranean

2. secondary in rank; subordinate

   subeditor

3. falling short of; less than or imperfectly

   subhuman

   subarctic

4. forming a subdivision or subordinate part of a whole

   subcommittee

5. in chemistry
   1. indicating that a compound contains a relatively small proportion of a specified element

      suboxide

   2. indicating that a salt is basic salt

      subacetate

sub.

³

abbreviation for

1. subeditor
2. subito (in music)
3. subscription
4. substitute

sub–

1. A prefix that means “underneath or lower” (as in subsoil ), “a subordinate or secondary part of something else” (as in subphylum. ), or “less than completely” (as in subtropical. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sub¹

By shortening of words prefixed with sub-

Origin of sub²

< Latin, combining form representing sub (preposition); akin to Greek hypó; hypo-

Word History and Origins

Origin of sub¹

from Latin sub

Example Sentences

And while he has posted a sub-3.40 ERA in a season five times, he has also suffered ERAs above 4.00 in three other seasons.

From Los Angeles Times

Adebimpe, who is also an actor and appeared in the summer blockbuster “Twisters,” made a solo album due to come out in 2025 on Sub Pop.

From New York Times

Among the crew is sub lieutenant Yasemin Dilek, who comes from Liverpool.

From BBC

“Aday’s got to play better,” Cronin said, “so then we’ve got a sub.”

From Los Angeles Times

A team with a sub-.500 record has gone 3-2 in away games, with the losses coming against No. 4 Penn State and No. 22 Louisiana State.

From Los Angeles Times