Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense subjects, present participle subjecting, past tense, past participle subjectedpronunciation note: The noun and adjective are pronounced (sʌbdʒɪkt). The verb is pronounced (səbdʒekt).
1. countable noun
The subject of something such as a conversation, letter, or book is the thing that is being discussed or written about.
It was I who first raised the subject of plastic surgery.
...the president's own views on the subject.
...steering the conversation round to his favourite subject.
Synonyms: topic, question, issue, matter More Synonyms of subject
2. countable noun
Someone or something that is the subject of criticism, study, or an investigation is being criticized, studied, or investigated.
Over the past few years, some of the positions Mr. Meredith has adopted have madehim the subject of criticism. [+ of]
He's now the subject of an official inquiry. [+ of]
3. countable noun
A subject is an area of knowledge or study, especially one that you study at school, college, or university.
Surprisingly, mathematics was voted their favourite subject.
...a tutor in maths and science subjects.
Synonyms: branch of study, area, field, discipline More Synonyms of subject
4. countable noun
In an experiment or piece of research, the subject is the person or animal that is being tested or studied.
[formal]
'White noise' was played into the subject's ears through headphones.
Subjects in the study were asked to follow a modified diet.
Synonyms: participant, case, patient, victim More Synonyms of subject
5. countable noun
An artist's subjects are the people, animals, or objects that he or she paints, models, or photographs.
Her favourite subjects are shells spotted on beach walks.
6. countable noun
In grammar, the subject of a clause is the noun group that refers to the person or thing that is doing the action expressed by the verb. For example, in 'My cat keeps catching birds', 'my cat' is the subject.
7. adjective
To be subject to something means to be affected by it or to be likely to be affected by it.
Prices may be subject to alteration. [+ to]
Foreign wine was subject to an import tax. [+ to]
...a disorder in which the person's mood is subject to wild swings from mania todepression.
8. adjective
If someone is subject to a particular set of rules or laws, they have to obey those rules or laws.
The tribunal is unique because Mr Jones is not subject to the normal police disciplinecode. [+ to]
...arguing that as a sovereign state it could not be subject to another country'slaws.
9. verb
If you subject someone to something unpleasant, you make them experience it.
...the man who had subjected her to four years of beatings and abuse. [VERB noun + to]
Innocent civilians are being arrested and subjected to inhumane treatment. [VERB noun to noun]
Synonyms: put through, expose, submit, lay open More Synonyms of subject
10. countable noun
The people who live in or belong to a particular country, usually one ruled by a monarch, are the subjects of that monarch or country.
...his subjects regarded him as a great and wise monarch.
Roughly half of them are British subjects.
Synonyms: citizen, resident, native, inhabitant More Synonyms of subject
11. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Subject peoples and countries are ruled or controlled by the government of another country.
[formal]
The subject peoples of her empire were anxious for their own independence.
...colonies and other subject territories.
Synonyms: subordinate, dependent, satellite, inferior More Synonyms of subject
12.
See to change the subject
13.
See subject to sth
More Synonyms of subject
English Easy Learning GrammarAdjectivesAdjectives are used with nouns to make the meaning more specific. If you use the noun ‘bear’ it can mean any animal of that species. As soon as yousay ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarComplementsSome verbs such as be, become, seem, do not have an object but a complement. The subject complement is a word or phrase that tells us more about the subject. Alan ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarFinite and non-finite verbsIn a sentence, there is normally at least one verb that has both a subject and a tense.When a verb has a subject and a tense, it can be referred to as ... Read more
subject in British English
noun (ˈsʌbdʒɪkt)
1.
a.
the predominant theme or topic, as of a book, discussion, etc
b.
(in combination)
subject-heading
2.
any branch of learning considered as a course of study
3. grammar, logic
a word, phrase, or formal expression about which something is predicated or stated in a sentence; for example, the cat in the sentence The cat catches mice
4.
a person or thing that undergoes experiment, analysis, treatment, etc
5.
a person who lives under the rule of a monarch, government, etc
6.
an object, figure, scene, etc, as selected by an artist or photographer for representation
7. philosophy
a.
that which thinks or feels as opposed to the object of thinking and feeling; the self or the mind
b.
a substance as opposed to its attributes
8. Also called: theme music
a melodic or thematic phrase used as the principal motif of a fugue, the basis from which the musical material is derived in a sonata-form movement, or the recurrent figure in a rondo
9. logic
a.
the term of a categorial statement of which something is predicated
b.
the reference or denotation of the subject term of a statement. The subject of John is tall is not the name John, but John himself
10.
an originating motive
11. change the subject
adjective (ˈsʌbdʒɪkt)(usually postpositive; and foll byto)
12.
being under the power or sovereignty of a ruler, government, etc
subject peoples
13.
showing a tendency (towards)
a child subject to indiscipline
14.
exposed or vulnerable
subject to ribaldry
15.
conditional upon
the results are subject to correction
adverb
16. subject to
verb (səbˈdʒɛkt)(transitive)
17. (foll by to)
to cause to undergo the application (of)
they subjected him to torture
18. (often passive; foll byto)
to expose or render vulnerable or liable (to some experience)
he was subjected to great danger
19. (foll by to)
to bring under the control or authority (of)
to subject a soldier to discipline
20. rare
to subdue or subjugate
21. rare
to present for consideration; submit
22. obsolete
to place below
Abbreviation: subj
Derived forms
subjectable (subˈjectable)
adjective
subjectability (subˌjectaˈbility)
noun
subjectless (ˈsubjectless)
adjective
subject-like (ˈsubject-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Latin subjectus brought under, from subicere to place under, from sub- + jacere to throw
subject in American English
(ˈsʌbdʒɪkt; ˈsʌbˌdʒɛkt; for v. səbˈdʒɛkt)
adjective
1.
under the authority or control of, or owing allegiance to, another
subject peoples
2.
having a disposition or tendency; liable (to)
subject to fits of anger
3.
liable to receive; exposed (to)
subject to censure
4.
contingent or conditional upon (with to)
subject to your approval
noun
5.
a person under the authority or control of another; esp., a person owing allegianceto a particular ruler, government, etc.
6.
someone or something made to undergo a treatment, experiment, analysis, dissection,etc.
7.
something dealt with in discussion, study, writing, painting, etc.; theme
8.
the main theme or melody of a musical composition or movement, esp., the opening theme in a fugue
9.
originating cause, reason, or motive
10.
any of the various courses of study in a school or college; branch of learning
11. Grammar
the noun or other substantive that is one of the two immediate constituents of a sentence and about which something is said in the predicate
12. Logic
that part of a proposition about which something is said; that which is affirmed or denied
13. Philosophy
a.
the actual substance of anything as distinguished from its qualities and attributes
b.
the mind, or ego, that thinks and feels, as distinguished from everything outside the mind
verb transitive
14. Obsolete
to place under or below
15.
to bring under the authority or control of; cause to owe allegiance
16.
to make liable or vulnerable
to subject oneself to the contempt of others
17.
to cause to experience or receive some action or treatment
to subject someone to interrogation, subject a new drug to rigorous testing
18. Rare
to place before; submit
a plan subjected for approval
SYNONYMY NOTE: subject is the general word for whatever is dealt with in discussion, study, writing, art,etc. [the subject of a talk, painting, etc.]; a theme is a subject developed or elaborated upon in a literary or artistic work, or onethat constitutes the underlying motif of the work [a novel with a social theme]; a topic is a subject of common interest selected for individual treatment, as in an essay,or for discussion by a group of persons [baseball is their favorite topic of conversation]; text is specifically applied to a Biblical passage chosen as the subject of a sermon
Derived forms
subjection (subˈjection)
noun
Word origin
ME suget < OFr < L subjectus, pp. of subjicere, to place under, put under, subject < sub-, under + jacere, to throw: see jet1; (sense 7) L subjectum, foundation, subject (transl. of Gr to hypokeimenon)
COBUILD Collocations
subject
A-level subject
academic subject
broach a subject
sensitive subject
study a subject
taboo subject
Examples of 'subject' in a sentence
subject
It is right that those who use them are subject to similar criticism.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It must be subject to strict controls enforced by a tough proactive regulator.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The researchers said that health officials should find new ways of talking to people about the subject.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Are there certain subjects that should remain taboo below a certain age?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is a real risk you and your loved ones could be subjected to violence.
The Sun (2014)
She is naturally very funny and can riff amusingly on almost any subject we bring up.
The Sun (2013)
We want to turn this taboo subject into something we can all talk about.
The Sun (2015)
Yet here it constitutes another core subject.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Help her to relax by dwelling on subject areas that reflect her enthusiasms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is hard to make such subjects anything but compelling.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Why can they not occur as the subject of a sentence?
Salkie, Raphael The Chomsky Update - Linguistics and Politics (1990)
It is also unlike most other books on the subject because it is a pleasure to read.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
That power was not subject to the constraints referred to above.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Your interest in them as people will make it easy for you to discover their favourite subjects.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
Who is the primary subject and object of this conversation?
Christianity Today (2000)
Offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and controls.
The Sun (2013)
The subject was a man brought in off the street.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Vouchers subject to voucher terms and conditions.
The Sun (2012)
This is reflected in those studying the subjects at university.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All contributors bring erudition and experience to their subjects.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
They were meant to conjure the presence of a divinely appointed monarch and subjects were expected to treat them according respect.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
subject
British English: subject /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ NOUN
The subject of a conversation, letter, or book is the person or thing that is being discussed or written about.
We got on to the subject of relationships.
American English: subject
Arabic: مَوْضُوع
Brazilian Portuguese: assunto
Chinese: 主题
Croatian: tema
Czech: téma
Danish: emne
Dutch: onderwerp
European Spanish: asignatura
Finnish: aihe
French: sujet
German: Gegenstand Thema
Greek: θέμα
Italian: materia
Japanese: 主題
Korean: 주제
Norwegian: tema
Polish: temat
European Portuguese: assunto
Romanian: subiect
Russian: предмет
Latin American Spanish: asunto
Swedish: ämne
Thai: หัวข้อ
Turkish: konu
Ukrainian: предмет
Vietnamese: chủ đề
British English: subject VERB
If you subject someone to something unpleasant, you make them experience it.
...the man who had subjected her to four years of beatings and abuse.
American English: subject
Brazilian Portuguese: sujeitar-se
Chinese: 使遭受
European Spanish: someter
French: soumettre
German: unterwerfen
Italian: sottoporre
Japanese: 受けさせる
Korean: 좋지 않은 일을 당하게 하다
European Portuguese: sujeitar-se
Latin American Spanish: someter
All related terms of 'subject'
subject to
under the condition that
core subject
the three foundation subjects (English, mathematics , and science ) that are compulsory throughout each key stage in the National Curriculum
short subject
a short film, esp one presented between screenings of a feature film
subject index
an alphabetical list of persons, places, subjects, etc, mentioned in the text of a printed work, usually at the back, and indicating where in the work they are referred to
taboo subject
The subject of something such as a conversation , letter, or book is the thing that is being discussed or written about.
special subject
an area of knowledge in which someone specializes
subject heading
a title or heading of a category , esp in a bibliography or index
subject matter
The subject matter of something such as a book, lecture , film, or painting is the thing that is being written about, discussed , or shown .
subject pronoun
a pronoun which takes the place of a subject in a sentence , such as (in English) 'I', 'you', or 'we'
subject-raising
a rule that moves the subject of a complement clause into the clause in which it is embedded , as in the derivation of He is likely to be late from It is likely that he will be late
academic subject
A subject is an area of knowledge or study, especially one that you study at school, college , or university.
sensitive subject
The subject of something such as a conversation , letter, or book is the thing that is being discussed or written about.
subject catalogue
a catalogue with entries arranged by subject in a classified sequence
subject complement
a word or a group of words, usually functioning as an adjective or noun , that is used in the predicate following a copula and describes or is identified with the subject of the sentence, as sleepy in The travelers became sleepy
subject to sth
If an event will take place subject to a condition , it will take place only if that thing happens .
A-level subject
A subject is an area of knowledge or study, especially one that you study at school, college , or university.
broach a subject
The subject of something such as a conversation , letter, or book is the thing that is being discussed or written about.
change the subject
to select a new topic of conversation
specialized subject
a school or university subject that concentrates on a particular field of knowledge
study a subject
A subject is an area of knowledge or study, especially one that you study at school, college , or university.
to change the subject
When someone involved in a conversation changes the subject , they start talking about something else, often because the previous subject was embarrassing .
drop the subject/drop it/let it drop
If you want someone to drop the subject , drop it , or let it drop , you want them to stop talking about something, often because you are annoyed that they keep talking about it.
Chinese translation of 'subject'
subject
(nˈsʌbdʒɪkt; vbsəbˈdʒɛkt)
n(c)
(= matter) 主题(題) (zhǔtí) (个(個), gè)
(Scol) 科目 (kēmù) (个(個), gè)
[of country]国(國)民 (guómín)
(Gram) 主语(語) (zhǔyǔ) (个(個), gè)
vt
to subject sb to sth使某人经(經)受某事 (shǐ mǒurén jīngshòu mǒushì)
adj
to be subject to遭到 (zāodào)
to change the subject改变(變)话(話)题(題) (gǎibiàn huàtí)
subject to availability以可取得为(為)准(準) (yǐ kě qǔdé wéi zhǔn)
prices may be subject to alteration价(價)格可能会(會)有变(變)动(動) (jiàgé kěnéng huì yǒu biàndòng)