sub out
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To replace with a substitute: to substitute (something or someone).
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
It's this single word also that Dickenson's editors subbed out for the 1896 edition of her poems, rendering the line instead, “But sequence ravelled out of reach / like balls upon a floor.”
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To hire a subcontractor (to complete a task): to subcontract (something).
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “sub out” mean?
To replace with a substitute: to substitute (something or someone).
Is “sub out” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.