Definition of SUBSCRIBE

verb sub·scribe \ səb-ˈskrīb \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

subscribed; subscribing

transitive verb

1 : to write (one's name) underneath : sign

2 a : to sign (something, such as a document) with one's own hand in token of consent or obligation

b : to attest by signing

c : to pledge (a gift or contribution) by writing one's name with the amount

3 : to assent to : support

intransitive verb

1 : to sign one's name to a document

2 a : to give consent or approval to something written by signing

unwilling to subscribe to the agreement

b : to set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give something (such as a sum of money); also : to give something in accordance with such a promise

c : to enter one's name for a publication or service; also : to receive a periodical or service regularly on order

subscribed to many magazines

d : to agree to purchase and pay for securities especially of a new offering

subscribed for 1000 shares

3 : to feel favorably disposed

I subscribe to your sentiments

—

subscriber

noun

See subscribe defined for English-language learners

See subscribe defined for kids

Examples of subscribe in a Sentence

Subscribe today and get your first issue free!
You'll receive a user name and password when you subscribe.

Recent Examples of subscribe from the Web

Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/mandym.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Will JCPS join the more than 15 Kentucky school districts closed for Friday's teacher rally?," 12 Apr. 2018
Support the project, subscribe to the mailing list, or follow The Investigative Fund on Twitter and Facebook.

— gabriel thompson, Longreads, "Coachella, Underground," 12 Apr. 2018
The package comes to less than the price of subscribing separately to Spotify's $9.99-a-month service and Hulu's $7.99-a-month service.

— bloomberg, latimes.com, "Spotify and Hulu team up to offer a combined subscription for $12.99 a month," 11 Apr. 2018
Be more informed – support local journalism and subscribe today to see more stories like this.

— angela hart, sacbee, "Jerry Brown quiet on Stephon Clark killing, but candidates running for his job call for change | The Sacramento Bee," 5 Apr. 2018
And yes, his hair. Download the mp3 file here, listen to the stream here or below, or subscribe to it in the iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play stores.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers Podcast: Chatting with Josh Hader and the Cubs are in town," 5 Apr. 2018
Executives of Mobile Messenger, an aggregator, provided phone numbers of customers who were to be auto subscribed.

— corinne ramey, WSJ, "Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fraud Over Unsolicited Texts," 2 Apr. 2018
Please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to Marsh Man Masson on YouTube.

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Triple treat: Spotted bass, crappie, largemouth bass," 30 Mar. 2018
And many of those converts subscribe to fundamental forms of Pentecostal Christianity — and that’s being reflected in local politics.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Are evangelical politics reshaping Central America into the new Bible Belt? | Miami Herald," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subscribe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of subscribe

Middle English, from Latin subscribere, literally, to write beneath, from sub- + scribere to write — more at scribe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

subscribe Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of subscribe

assent, consent, accede, acquiesce, agree, subscribe mean to concur with what has been proposed. assent implies an act involving the understanding or judgment and applies to propositions or opinions.

- voters assented to the proposal

consent involves the will or feelings and indicates compliance with what is requested or desired.

- consented to their daughter's going

accede implies a yielding, often under pressure, of assent or consent.

- officials acceded to the prisoners' demands

acquiesce implies tacit acceptance or forbearance of opposition.

- acquiesced to his boss's wishes

agree sometimes implies previous difference of opinion or attempts at persuasion.

- finally agreed to come along

subscribe implies not only consent or assent but hearty approval and active support.

- subscribes wholeheartedly to the idea

SUBSCRIBE Defined for English Language Learners

verb

: to pay money to get a publication or service regularly
: to agree to buy shares in a company
: to belong to or support something (such as an organization) by paying money regularly