subsume

verb

sub·​sume səb-ˈsüm 

subsumed; subsuming

transitive verb

: to include or place within something larger or more comprehensive : encompass as a subordinate or component element

red, green, and yellow are subsumed under the term "color"

subsumable

səb-ˈsü-mə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms of subsume

• include
• contain
• involve
• encompass
• carry

Examples of subsume in a Sentence

games and team sports are subsumed under the classification of “recreation”

Recent Examples on the Web

The wreckage is slowly being subsumed by the reef in the shallow blue waters of the tropical lagoon, but its story is far from over. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025

At one points, the fallout from the texts threatened to subsume the governor’s race. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Much of the #Unbreakable work has been subsumed into her anti-trafficking activities. —Belinda Luscombe, Time, 3 Nov. 2025

This 13-episode techno-horror about a young girl who is slowly subsumed into a life on the Wired (the show’s version of the internet) is a perfect pre-Y2K-paranoia binge. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin subsumere, from Latin sub- + sumere to take up — more at consume

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subsume

• assume
• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• costume

Kids Definition

subsume

verb

sub·​sume səb-ˈsüm 

subsumed; subsuming

: to include or place within something larger or more general

red and green are subsumed under the term "color"