Meaning & use

Subs

noun·Everyday

Last updated

Informal short form for substitutes, submarines, submarine sandwiches, subscriptions, or subtitles, depending on context.

See it in a sentence

The coach sent in two subs during the final ten minutes of the match.

We grabbed a couple of subs from the deli for lunch.

A note on using this word

The meaning of "subs" shifts entirely with context, from sports substitutes to sandwiches to submarines, all shortened from longer words beginning with "sub-."

Words with a similar meaning

substitutes

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

Submarines, especially naval vessels that travel underwater.

The navy deployed two subs to patrol the coastline.

3. noun

Subtitles displayed on screen to translate or transcribe dialogue.

He watched the foreign film with English subs turned on.

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