subscribe

Definition of subscribenext
1
as in to agree
to give or express one's approval (as to a proposal) promised that as president he would never subscribe to the use of torture as an interrogation method, regardless of the circumstances

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to sign
to write one's name on (as a document) they dutifully subscribed several dozen forms at the mortgage closing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word subscribe distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of subscribe are accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, and consent. While all these words mean "to concur with what has been proposed," subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.

subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea

When might accede be a better fit than subscribe?

In some situations, the words accede and subscribe are roughly equivalent. However, accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

In what contexts can acquiesce take the place of subscribe?

Although the words acquiesce and subscribe have much in common, acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

acquiesced to his boss's wishes

Where would agree be a reasonable alternative to subscribe?

The meanings of agree and subscribe largely overlap; however, agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

finally agreed to come along

When is it sensible to use assent instead of subscribe?

While the synonyms assent and subscribe are close in meaning, assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

voters assented to the proposal

When would consent be a good substitute for subscribe?

The synonyms consent and subscribe are sometimes interchangeable, but consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.

consented to their daughter's going

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of subscribe With 59% of younger viewers subscribing and unsubscribing from streamers to chase specific titles, what should streaming platforms do to adapt to this shift and foster long-term loyalty? Jennifer Maas, Variety, 6 May 2026 Many want to be reimbursed and others planned to wait to subscribe next year. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 May 2026 The streaming research firm also estimates that 51 percent of subscribers that signed up for Howdy in August and September are still subscribed, giving it a higher retention rate than many other streaming platforms. Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026 Apple’s aim is to make payments easier for customers who may not be able to afford a full annual subscription at once, but want to subscribe for the year to take advantage of discounts or ensure a consistent price. James Peckham, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subscribe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subscribe
Verb
  • After the United States and Iran failed to agree on the peace proposal on May 10, oil prices jumped $3 a barrel.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 11 May 2026
  • The Heat, which was among the teams that aggressively pursued Antetokounmpo in February ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline, would be able to include three first-round picks in a trade offer to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo if a deal is agreed to before the draft.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Decades of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan has stopped, but unresolved disputes remain, and neither side has signed a formal, comprehensive peace treaty.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
  • That was certainly true on Monday, as Lamont signed a new 124-page labor bill into law.
    Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Switzerland voted to enshrine the availability of cash in its constitution, assenting to a push designed to guard against the demise of physical money.
    Bastian Benrath-Wright, Bloomberg, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Moderna resisted, but agreed to provide test subjects with enhanced disclosures on its informed consent form, to which the FDA assented.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Subscribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subscribe. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

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