subject
gb/sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt/ us/sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt/
A1
English
~ 400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
person or thing discussed
A person or thing that people talk about or study.
Usage pattern:
[subject] of [discussion/study]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'subject' with 'object' in grammar, using one in place of the other.
Synonyms
topic (Refers specifically to the theme or matter being considered, often interchangeable in casual contexts.)
Antonyms
object (In grammar, 'object' is the receiver of an action, opposite to 'subject' as the doer.)
Collocations
main subject
|change the subject
|subject of discussion
|subject matter
|subject area
Themes
education
|communication
|media
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Climate change was the main subject of the conference.
- She quickly changed the subject to avoid the question.
- The article's subject is the history of jazz.
- He became the subject of gossip after the incident.
- Mathematics was always her favorite subject at school.
Learner examples
- This book is about the subject of space.
- The subject of the movie is friendship.
- My favorite subject is science.
- We talk about many subjects in class.
- The teacher told us the subject for today.
Noun
A1
entity
2
area of study
A type of class or study in school or university.
Usage pattern:
[subject] in [school/university]
Synonyms
discipline (More formal and academic term for an area of study.)
Antonyms
extracurricular activity (Activities outside formal academic subjects.)
Collocations
school subject
|favorite subject
|study a subject
|major subject
Themes
education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Mathematics is a difficult subject for many students.
- History was my favorite subject in high school.
- She decided to major in biology as her main subject.
- Art is not a compulsory subject at this level.
- We have six different subjects this semester.
Learner examples
- Math is a hard subject for me.
- English is my favorite subject.
- I study three subjects at school.
- Science is an important subject.
- We learn many subjects each year.
Noun
technical
A2
entity
3
doer in a sentence
The word in a sentence that shows who or what does something.
Synonyms
agent (In linguistic terms, agent refers to the doer of an action; similar but not identical to grammatical 'subject'.)
Antonyms
object (In grammar, the receiver of an action.)
Collocations
grammatical subject
|subject and predicate
Themes
grammar
|education
|communication
Examples
- In the sentence 'The cat sleeps,' 'the cat' is the subject.
- Every sentence needs a subject and a verb.
- The teacher asked us to underline the subject in each sentence.
Learner examples
- In this sentence, 'I' is the subject.
- The subject comes before the verb.
- We must write a subject in every sentence.
Verb
formal
B2
action
4
force to experience something
To make someone have to face something bad or hard.
Usage pattern:
to subject [someone] to [something]
Synonyms
expose (Implies putting someone in a situation where they experience something, not always by force.)
Antonyms
protect (To keep someone safe from experiencing harm.)
Collocations
subject someone to abuse
|subject to review
|subject to change
Themes
law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Prisoners were subjected to harsh treatment.
- The proposal will be subjected to careful review before approval.
- He subjected his team to long working hours.
Learner examples
- They subjected him to many tests.
- The law subjects us to strict rules.
- She was subjected to cold weather.
adjective
formal
B2
property
5
dependent on conditions
Depending on something else; possible to change because of it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is subject to [condition/rule]
Synonyms
conditional (Emphasizes dependence on certain conditions being met.)
Antonyms
unconditional (Not dependent on any condition.)
Collocations
subject to approval
|subject to change
Themes
law
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- All bookings are subject to availability.
- The schedule is subject to change without notice.
- Participation is subject to approval by the committee.
Learner examples
- This price is subject to tax.
- The plan is subject to change.
- Your idea is subject to approval.
Grammar
Dictionary form
subject
IPA
GB/sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt/
US/sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt/
Syllables & stress
sub - ject (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sub)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: subject
Noun
- Base: subject
- Plural: subjects
Verb
- Base: subject
- 3rd Person Singular: subjects
- Present Participle: subjecting
- Past: subjected
Word family
Forms
subjects
noun
subjecting
verb
subjected
verb
Core family
subjective
adjective B2
Related words
subjectively
adverb
Advanced or less common
subjectivity
noun C1
Expressions
be subject to change
1/bˈi sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt tə t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
may be altered later
It might change later if things are different.
Examples
- The schedule is subject to change depending on the weather.
- Prices are subject to change without notice.
change the subject
1/t͡ʃˈeɪnd͡ʒ ðə sˈʌbd͡ʒɪkt/
fixed phrase
switch conversation topic
To start talking about something different from before.
Examples
- I didn’t want to talk about it, so I changed the subject.
- He quickly changed the subject when politics came up.
subject to approval
1/səbd͡ʒˈɛkt tə əpɹˈuvəl/
fixed phrase
formal
needs permission first
It will happen only if someone official says yes first.
Examples
- Your request is subject to approval by the board.
- The sale is subject to approval from management.