Meaning & use

subsume

verb·Advanced

To include or absorb something as part of a larger category, group, or entity.

See it in a sentence

The small startup was eventually subsumed into a much larger technology corporation.

Her individual concerns were subsumed under the broader goals of the committee.

A note on using this word

Subsume is a formal verb typically used in passive constructions with 'into' or 'under' (subsumed into, subsumed under a category); it is common in academic and legal writing.

Words with a similar meaning

incorporateabsorbencompass

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

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “subsume”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.