Synonyms of sub

sub 1 of 3

noun (1)

as in submarine

a large sandwich on a long split roll

we shared a tuna sub at lunch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• submarine
• hero
• torpedo
• hoagie
• poor boy
• grinder
• hoagy
• Italian sandwich
• po'boy
• Cuban sandwich

sub

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈsəb 

as in substitute

a person or thing that takes the place of another

we had a sub in English today, so we didn't get our test results back

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substitute
• replacement
• backup
• surrogate
• assistant
• stand-in
• cover
• reserve
• relief
• proxy
• pinch hitter
• designated hitter
• fill-in
• locum tenens
• alternate
• deputy
• second
• delegate
• factor
• agent
• makeshift
• rep
• representative
• commissary
• apology
• attorney
• assignee
• successor
• stopgap
• procurator
• envoy
• understudy
• reliever
• superseder

sub

3 of 3

verb

as in to substitute

to serve as a replacement usually for a time only

the weekend anchor is subbing for the station's main anchor all this week

she subbed for middle school teachers in the district as needed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substitute
• spell
• cover
• stand in
• take over
• fill in
• step in
• pinch-hit
• double (as)
• relieve
• understudy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sub

Noun

The sub eased down the rail, holding a hundred and fifty tons of molten iron. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

What to order: The New Jersey steak sub (cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil and vinegar, and Jones’ special sauce) for $7.89. —Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2025

Verb

But Jackson Travis played a good shift after subbing in for Cannon. —Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 19 Feb. 2025

By the time that the Heat subbed in Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter, the Thunder had already stolen momentum with a 13-0 run to pull ahead by three points. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025