1 B1 informal
(Sports) To remove a player from the field and replace them with a substitute.
"The manager decided to sub out the goalkeeper after he made two costly errors."
separable
sub out
B1 informal separable transitive
To remove a player, ingredient, or component and replace them with a substitute.
In plain English
Take someone or something out and put a replacement in.
What does "sub out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To replace one ingredient, component, or element with a substitute in any process.
"If you're lactose intolerant, just sub out the milk for oat milk."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To substitute (sub) someone out — taking a player out of the game.
Actually means
Take someone or something out and put a replacement in.
Usage tip
The opposite of 'sub in'. Widely used in sports and cooking. Sometimes used in technical contexts such as software or hardware replacement. The player being removed 'subs out'; the one coming on 'subs in'.
Words that pair with "sub out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
player goalkeeper ingredient component variable
How to conjugate "sub out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sub out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
subs out
he/she/it
Past simple
subed out
yesterday
Past participle
subed out
have + pp
-ing form
subing out
continuous
Hear "sub out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "sub out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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