1
: something that functions or operates underwater
specifically
: a naval vessel designed to operate underwater
2
: a large sandwich on a long split roll with any of a variety of fillings (such as meatballs or cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, and tomato)
called also grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian sandwich, po'boy, sub, torpedo
submarined; submarining
: to attack by or as if by a submarine : attack from beneath
: to dive or slide under something
Examples of submarine in a Sentence
Adjective
the submarine fossils that are to be found in coral reefs
Noun
always orders a roast beef submarine with the works
Recent Examples on the Web
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Deep Blue Sea—Learn about our oceans while on submarine Sea Lab Alpha with underwater explorers Marina and Reef.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 6 Dec. 2024
David Szondy, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025
Like their nuclear counterparts, U.S. ballistic and cruise missiles would be dispersed among a combination of mobile launch vehicles on land, submarines at sea, and bombers in the air.
—Andrew S. Lim, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Nichushkin submarined the past two playoff runs, sent home during a first-round exit to Seattle in 2023 and banned hours before the puck dropped in Game 4 of the club’s second-round series against Dallas, leading to another premature elimination.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for submarine
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Adjective
It is expected the Chinese submarine force to grow to 65 boats by 2025 and 80 by 2035 because of an expansion of submarine construction capacity.
—Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Deep Blue Sea—Learn about our oceans while on submarine Sea Lab Alpha with underwater explorers Marina and Reef.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
Today, there are robotic ships being tested for anti-submarine patrols, as minehunters, and even as submarines without crews.
—David Szondy, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025
Like their nuclear counterparts, U.S. ballistic and cruise missiles would be dispersed among a combination of mobile launch vehicles on land, submarines at sea, and bombers in the air.
—Andrew S. Lim, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
Injuries have submarined the Sixers, who sit 11th in the Eastern Conference at 15-26.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
Nichushkin submarined the past two playoff runs, sent home during a first-round exit to Seattle in 2023 and banned hours before the puck dropped in Game 4 of the club’s second-round series against Dallas, leading to another premature elimination.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for submarine
Cite this Entry
“Submarine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/submarine. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
submarine
1 of 2 adjective
sub·ma·rine
ˈsəb-mə-ˌrēn 
ˌsəb-mə-ˈrēn
submarine
2 of 2 noun1
: a naval vessel designed to operate underwater
2
: a large sandwich on a long split roll
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