In team games such as football, a sub is a player who is brought into a match to replace another player.
[informal]
We had a few injuries and had to use youth team kids as subs.
2. countable noun
A sub is the same as a submarine.
[informal]
3. plural noun
A fixed amount of money that you pay regularly in order to be a member of a club or society is called your subs.
[British, old-fashioned]
Subs will be raised as from next year.
sub-
(sʌb-)
1. prefix
Sub- is used at the beginning of words that have 'under' as part of their meaning.
The waters were rising about the rock and would soon submerge it.
...a nuclear-powered submarine.
2. prefix
Sub- is added to the beginning of nouns in order to form other nouns that refer to things that are part of a larger thing.
...a subcommittee on family values and individual rights.
...the subdivision of farms into smallholdings.
3. prefix
Sub- is added to the beginning of adjectives in order to form other adjectives that describe someone or something as inferior, for example inferior to normal people or to normal things.
The cold has made already substandard living conditions even worse.
to grant or receive (an advance payment of wages or salary)
6. (transitive) informal short for subedit
7. (transitive) photography
to apply a substratum to (a film or plate base)
SUB in British English
abbreviation for
sport utility bike: a bicycle capable of carrying passengers or cargo
sub. in British English
abbreviation for
1.
subeditor
2.
subito (in music)
3.
subscription
4.
substitute
sub- in British English
prefix
1.
situated under or beneath
subterranean
2.
secondary in rank; subordinate
subeditor
3.
falling short of; less than or imperfectly
subarctic
subhuman
4.
forming a subdivision or subordinate part of a whole
subcommittee
5. (in chemistry)
a.
indicating that a compound contains a relatively small proportion of a specified element
suboxide
b.
indicating that a salt is basic salt
subacetate
Word origin
from Latin sub
sub in American English1
(sʌb)
noun
1.
submarine
2.
subscription
3.
substitute
4.
submarine sandwich
verb intransitiveWord forms: subbed or ˈsubbing
5. Informal
to be a substitute (for someone)
sub in American English2
1.
subaltern
2.
substitute(s)
3.
suburb(an)
sub- in American English
(sʌb; səb)
1.
under, beneath, below, from beneath
submarine, subsolar
2.
lower in rank, position, or importance than; inferior or subordinate to
subaltern, subhead
3.
to a lesser degree than, somewhat, slightly
subhuman, subaquatic
4.
a.
so as to form a division into smaller or less important parts
subdivide
b.
forming such a division
subspecies
5.
a.
near, bordering on
subalpine
b.
nearly, almost
subteen
6. Chemistry
a.
with less than the normal amount of (the specified substance)
suboxide
b.
basic
subcarbonate
▶ USAGE: In words of Latin origin, sub- becomes suc- before c; suf- before f; sug- before g; sum- before m; sup- before p; sur- before r; and, often, sus- before c, p, or t
Word origin
< L sub, under, below: see up1
Examples of 'sub' in a sentence
sub
They prefer to pay their subs by handing over cash at the social clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
And three of those were sub appearances!
The Sun (2015)
But he remains uncapped after being an unused sub all five times.
The Sun (2006)
Will all the subs and fringe players please leave the trophy alone!
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Three came on as subs while another trio remained unused on the bench.
The Sun (2008)
Russian nuclear subs are now spotted weekly off our coast.
The Sun (2016)
But he has only been an unused sub since.
The Sun (2015)
Our nuclear sub fleet is being replaced.
The Sun (2009)
Players subbed off also score or lose points as normal regardless of how long they were on the pitch.
The Sun (2006)
Players subbed off also score or lose points in normal fashion regardless of how long they were on the pitch.
The Sun (2008)
It marred an otherwise impressive performance from the second-half sub.
The Sun (2014)
If you are in our club, then pay the sub.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He has been limited to four appearances as sub since his comeback at Liverpool two weeks ago.
The Sun (2016)
He was subbed after another substandard performance and that could be that for the Bulgarian.
The Sun (2010)
But he made one appearance as a sub before being sent on loan to Birmingham last season.
The Sun (2013)
Senior officers insisted there had been no security threat because the sub's nuclear reactor was shut down.
The Sun (2006)
Got himself involved a lot more than the first leg but ended up being subbed and replaced by Malouda.
The Sun (2008)
A good standing is not just about paying your subs on time or being free from political interference.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
ENGLAND'S win was tailor-made for quiz anoraks as a striker was subbed after replacing a striker who replaced a striker!
The Sun (2009)
The pair were unused subs.
The Sun (2012)
Q Who made the best use of their subs?
The Sun (2013)
His only appearance was as a second-half sub in the final match against Italy.
The Sun (2015)
After a dramatic pause, a figure slowly emerged from another of the sub's hatches.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It's the hard-working members who pay their subs who are being let down.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And the Welshman only came on for 43 minutes as a sub in two matches in the last month.