subscribe Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb offer to buy, as of stocks and shares
    • The broker subscribed 500 shares
  2. verb mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
    sign.
    • She signed the letter and sent it off
    • Please sign here
  3. verb adopt as a belief
    support.
    • I subscribe to your view on abortion
  4. verb pay (an amount of money) as a contribution to a charity or service, especially at regular intervals
    pledge.
    • I pledged $10 a month to my favorite radio station
  5. verb receive or obtain regularly
    subscribe to; take.
    • We take the Times every day

WordNet


Sub*scribe" transitive verb
Etymology
L. subscribere, subscriptum; sub under + scribere to write: cf. F. souscrire. See Scribe.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Subscribed ; present participle & verbal noun Subscribing
Definitions
  1. To write underneath, as one's name; to sign (one's name) to a document.
    [They] subscribed their names under them. Sir T. More.
  2. To sign with one's own hand; to give consent to, as something written, or to bind one's self to the terms of, by writing one's name beneath; as, parties subscribe a covenant or contract; a man subscribes a bond.
    All the bishops subscribed the sentence. Milman.
  3. To attest by writing one's name beneath; as, officers subscribe their official acts, and secretaries and clerks subscribe copies or records.
  4. To promise to give, by writing one's name with the amount; as, each man subscribed ten dollars.
  5. To sign away; to yield; to surrender. Obs. Shak.
  6. To declare over one's signature; to publish. Obs.
    Either or must shortly hear from him, or I will subscribe him a coward. Shak.
Sub*scribe" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To sign one's name to a letter or other document. Shak.
  2. To give consent to something written, by signing one's name; hence, to assent; to agree.
    So spake, so wished, much humbled Eve; but Fate Subscribed not. Milton.
  3. To become surely; -- with for. R. Shak.
  4. To yield; to admit one's self to be inferior or in the wrong. Obs.
    I will subscribe, and say I wronged the duke. Shak.
  5. To set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give a certain sum.
  6. To enter one's name for a newspaper, a book, etc.

Webster 1913