subject

SUB-jekt/ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɛkt/UKSUB-jikt/ˈsʌb.d͡ʒɪkt/

As a verbsuhb-JEKT

Pluralsubjects

Verbsubjects, subjecting, subjected

18 meanings of subject

Practice

1
topicnouncountable
The main thing that a book, talk, or picture is about.
Like the one big idea that everything in a story keeps pointing back to.
The subject of her painting was a quiet harbor at dawn.
We chose climate change as the subject for our class debate.
UsageSay on the subject of money, or change the subject.
Similartopic, theme, focus, matter, issue
Note
2
liableadjective
Likely to have something happen to you, often something bad.
Like a small boat that any passing wave can push around.
This low road is subject to flooding after heavy rain.
Old wooden houses are subject to damage from termites.
UsageSay subject to: the town is subject to storms.
Similarliable, prone, susceptible, vulnerable, exposed
Oppositeimmune, exempt, impervious
Note
3
school coursenouncountable
An area of learning you study, like math or history.
Like one shelf in a library where all the books cover the same kind of thing.
Math is her favorite subject at school.
He is taking three subjects this term.
Similarcourse, discipline, field, area, branch
4
adjective
Depending on something else happening or being agreed to, as in 'subject to approval'.
Like a green light that turns on only after another switch is flipped.
The booking is subject to full payment.
Joining the team is subject to passing a fitness test.
Similarconditional, contingent, dependent
Oppositeunconditional
Note
5
put throughverbtransitive
To make someone or something go through an experience, usually a bad one.
Like forcing something through a hard test it cannot avoid.
The teacher would never subject a student to public embarrassment.
They subjected the metal to extreme heat.
UsageSay subject someone to something.
Similarexpose, submit
Oppositespare, exempt, shield
Note
6
in an experimentnouncountable
A person, animal, or thing that is being studied, tested, or treated, especially in an experiment.
Like a plant that scientists watch closely to see how it grows.
Each subject in the study received the same dose.
Half of the subjects were given a placebo instead of the drug.
UsageSay test subjects or human subjects.
Similarparticipant, volunteer, patient, case
Note
7
nouncountable
The person or thing that blame, threats, an attack, or an investigation is aimed at.
After the bridge fell, the company became the subject of a police investigation.
The company is now the subject of a government investigation.
UsageSay the subject of criticism.
Similartarget, object, focus
Note
8
nouncountable
A few words at the top of an email, or a message like it, that tell you what it is about.
Always write a clear subject so people know what your email is about.
The subject said "Party on Saturday!" so I opened it right away.
UsageWrite a short subject line.
9
ruled personnouncountable
A person who is ruled by a king, queen, or government.
Like a player who must obey every call the referee makes.
Every subject of the kingdom paid taxes to the crown.
The queen waved to her subjects from the balcony.
UsageSay the king's subjects.
Similarcitizen, vassal, subordinate
Oppositeruler, sovereign, master

Less common meanings

10
grammarnouncountable
In a sentence, the word or words that do the action or that the sentence is about.
Like the main person a sentence is talking about.
In an English sentence, the subject usually comes before the verb.
In the sentence 'The dog barked,' the subject is 'the dog.'
Oppositeobject, predicate
Note
11
adjective
Being under the rule of a king, country, or other power, and having to obey it.
Like being on a team where one captain makes all the rules and you must follow them.
The small kingdom was subject to its powerful neighbor for a hundred years.
The colony's people were subject to laws made far across the sea.
UsageSay subject to a ruler.
Similarsubordinate, subservient, dependent, tributary, vassal
Oppositeindependent, sovereign, autonomous, free
12
conquerverbtransitive
To force a person, group, or country to obey and serve a more powerful ruler.
Like a bigger kid forcing smaller kids to do whatever he says.
The empire tried to subject every nearby tribe to its rule.
Within ten years, the invaders had subjected the whole valley to their rule.
UsageSay subject people to your rule.
Similarsubjugate, subdue, enslave, conquer, oppress
Oppositeliberate, free, emancipate
13
logic termnouncountable
The thing or person that a sentence is about and tells us something about.
Like the main thing a story is about, the way a tale is about its hero.
In logic, the subject of "Snow is white" is snow, the thing being described.
Every statement has a subject that it says something about.
Oppositepredicate
Note
14
music themenouncountable
The main tune in a piece of music that keeps coming back as it plays.
Like the main tune in a song that you keep hearing come back.
You can hear the subject return after each quiet part.
The composer brings the subject back in nearly every section.
Similartheme, motif
Note
15
person actingnouncountable
The person who carries out an action or does a deed.
Similaragent, actor, perpetrator, doer, protagonist
Note
16
mathnouncountable
The letter that a math formula is set up to give on its own.
Like moving things around until the one piece you want is left standing alone.
We rearranged the formula to make distance the subject.
When speed is the subject, the equation gives it to you directly.
UsageSay make r the subject.
Note
17
noun
A living being that has its own feelings, thoughts, and view of the world.
18
adjectiveobsolete
Lying or placed below something else, in a lower spot.
Long he them bore above the subject plain
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, subject means lying below.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of subject apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 2, 4, 11

It came through Old French from Latin 'subiectus', meaning lying under or exposed, from 'sub' (under) plus 'iacio' (throw). It copied a Greek word.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

The word came through Old French from Latin subiectus. en.wiktionary.org
Latin subiectus meant lying under or exposed. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin formation combines sub, meaning under, with iacio, meaning throw. en.wiktionary.org
The etymology includes a calque of the Ancient Greek word ὑποκείμενον. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1, 3, 6–10, 13–16

From Latin 'subiectus', meaning a subject or inferior, from 'sub' (under) plus 'iacio' (throw).

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Subject derives from Latin subiectus, meaning a subject or inferior. en.wiktionary.org
Its Latin roots are sub (under) and iacio (throw). en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 5, 12

From Medieval Latin 'subiecto', a repeated form of 'subicio' (throw), from 'sub' (under) plus 'iacio' (throw).

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

The verb subject derives from Medieval Latin subiecto, an iterative form of subicio. en.wiktionary.org
Subicio means to throw under or near. en.wiktionary.org
Subicio is formed from sub (under) and iacio (throw). en.wiktionary.org