as in to pay
to come to an agreement with another person or company to do part of a job that you have been hired to do
Parts of the project were subcontracted (out) to specialists.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 subcontract
In October, My Health My Resources issued a request for bids to subcontract its Youth Mentoring Services program.
—
Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2026
The company subcontracts installation to local contractors, leading to varied customer experiences.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
But anyone subcontracting tasks to AI is clever enough to imagine what might come next—a day when augmentation crosses into automation, and cognitive obsolescence compels them to seek work at a food truck, pet spa, or massage table.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Customers who do business with the company must go through the Texas corporation, which subcontracts with Mentink and Collard's shop in southeastern Oklahoma.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Mar. 2026
The company subcontracts installation to local contractors, leading to varied customer experiences.
—Dan Simms, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
But anyone subcontracting tasks to AI is clever enough to imagine what might come next—a day when augmentation crosses into automation, and cognitive obsolescence compels them to seek work at a food truck, pet spa, or massage table.
—Josh Tyrangiel, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Customers who do business with the company must go through the Texas corporation, which subcontracts with Mentink and Collard's shop in southeastern Oklahoma.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subcontract
Verb
-
Suzuki added that the Angels remain focused on winning and haven’t paid the chants too much attention.—
Joaquin Ruiz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
-
To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Even Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that the economy contracted early this year, while think tanks, bankers, and officials close to the Kremlin have been warning for months that a financial crisis is on the horizon.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
-
If hydrogen is gradually exsolving from the interior into the atmosphere, then young sub-Neptunes should contract more slowly than standard models predict.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The couple did hire a supervisory electrician, but otherwise, Paul put down the HVAC himself and the flooring, among other things.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
While much of those gains are concentrated in a few select sectors like health care, those two reports prompted some cautious optimism about hiring picking back up in 2026.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Many analysts and economists are thinking along similar lines, with Deutsche Bank Research Institute recently prompting a proprietary AI tool to forecast what jobs its AI brethren would eliminate, and how.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The old De Lane Lea production facility studio was up the road; the coffee shops were full of jobbing actors and post-production staff.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Well more than a year before the May 18 attack, Caleb Vazquez’s behavior had so concerned officials that he was placed on a 72-hour involuntary hold for a mental health evaluation, feared to be a danger to himself or others, court documents indicate.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
To prevent the queen from moving upward, beekeepers often place a screen called an excluder between the brood chambers and honey supers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Ecuador has struggled to contain drug violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs and battle for control of routes and coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
-
Broward County commissioners put forward $5 million to partner with the South Florida Water Management District for the study.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subcontract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subcontract. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
