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.
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Recent Examples of subcontract
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
This was done through a competitive bidding process, but allows Serco to subcontract its work to other providers without inviting tenders in the UK or seeking approval from UK ministries.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
The federal agency also subcontracts with other charter companies, including GlobalX, which handled more than half of DHS' charter flights in 2025, according to ICE Flight Monitor at Human Rights First, a group that tracks ICE deportation flights.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
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
This was done through a competitive bidding process, but allows Serco to subcontract its work to other providers without inviting tenders in the UK or seeking approval from UK ministries.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
The federal agency also subcontracts with other charter companies, including GlobalX, which handled more than half of DHS' charter flights in 2025, according to ICE Flight Monitor at Human Rights First, a group that tracks ICE deportation flights.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for subcontract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subcontract
Verb
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Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating settlement terms.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Rams boss Les Snead and Chiefs leadership tandem Andy Reid and Brett Veach don’t seem hindered by obstacles either, despite later draft slots and paying future Hall of Fame quarterbacks.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The lips are pursed and air is forced out of the lungs by contracting the core muscles.—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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The city contracted to work with Groot Recycling & Waste for the event, and the city’s streets department helped as well during the effort.—
David Sharos,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To wriggle out of Joseph’s grasp, Michael hires a brash young lawyer, John Branca, played by Miles Teller, who lends the coolly confident character a delightfully rough edge.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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Costs increase for those hiring an attorney or genealogist.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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The documents go on to say that after Dukes was arrested and placed into a Chicago youth facility at 15 years old, he was signed to Warner Records.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Earlier in the day, Charles delivered a rare address to a joint session of Congress, highlighting the second day of his four-day state visit and placing the spotlight on the strained but enduring relationship between his country and the United States.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The program’s aim is for nonprofit groups to partner with local governments to create or revitalize public spaces across Lake County, Legacy president and CEO Kelly Anoe told the crowd.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Some folks in the band’s organization initially wanted to partner with a big beer company, but fortuitously, somebody countered idea with Dogfish Head.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Subcontract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subcontract. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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