Meaning & use
subscribe
Last updated
Meanings
verbintransitive
To pay or arrange to receive a service, publication, or product regularly.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'to': subscribe to a magazine. You can also say 'subscribe for' a service.
Patterns
- subscribe to something
- subscribe for something
- subscribe online
I subscribe to two monthly magazines about cooking.
You can subscribe to the streaming service for a lower yearly price.
She subscribed to the newspaper for twenty years.
verbintransitive
To agree with or support an idea, belief, or way of thinking.
Grammar: No object; always followed by 'to' when talking about ideas: subscribe to a theory.
Patterns
- subscribe to an idea
- subscribe to a view
- subscribe to a theory
I don't subscribe to the idea that money buys happiness.
Most scientists subscribe to the theory of evolution.
He subscribes to a very traditional view of education.
verbintransitivecomputing
To click a button on a website or app to receive regular updates from a person or channel.
Grammar: No object; commonly used with 'to' on social media: subscribe to a channel.
Patterns
- subscribe to a channel
- subscribe on YouTube
Please subscribe to my channel if you enjoy the videos.
Over a million people subscribed to the podcast in its first year.
He subscribed to several newsletters about technology.
verbtransitiveformallegal
To write your name at the end of a document, especially to show agreement.
Grammar: Takes an object: subscribe a document. This is formal and mostly found in legal writing.
Patterns
- subscribe a document
- subscribe one's name
Both parties must subscribe the contract before it takes effect.
She subscribed the will in the presence of two witnesses.
Word forms
| third person singular | subscribes |
|---|---|
| past tense | subscribed |
| past participle | subscribed |
| -ing form | subscribing |
Common combinations
- subscribe to a magazine
- My parents subscribe to a gardening magazine.
- subscribe to a channel
- Thousands of viewers subscribe to her channel every day.
- subscribe to a theory
- Not all historians subscribe to that theory.
- subscribe online
- You can subscribe online and get the first month free.
- subscribe for a year
- We decided to subscribe for a year to see if we liked it.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sign up
- More general and often used for joining any service or course; 'subscribe' usually suggests regular payment or updates.
- agree with
- Fits when talking about opinions; 'subscribe to' is more formal and often used with theories or beliefs.
- support
- Focuses on actively helping or backing an idea; 'subscribe to' only means you accept or believe it.
Opposites
Word family
- subscription noun
- An arrangement to receive something regularly, often by paying.
- subscriber noun
- A person who subscribes to a service or publication.
- subscribable adjective
- Able to be subscribed to.
Commonly confused: subscribe or describe? subscribe or prescribe?
subscribe vs describe
Sounds somewhat similar but means 'to say what something is like'. 'Subscribe' relates to signing up or agreeing.
subscribe vs prescribe
Means 'to order medicine or treatment'. Do not confuse it with 'subscribe' when talking about services.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'subscribe' correctly?
Choose one answer.
When talking about receiving a publication, 'subscribe' is intransitive and takes 'to': subscribe to a magazine. Option 1 wrongly uses an object with no preposition, option 2 mixes the 'agree with' meaning, and option 3 uses the wrong verb form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “subscribe”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.