submarine
Americannoun
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a vessel that can be submerged and navigated under water, usually built for warfare and armed with torpedoes or guided missiles.
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something situated or living under the surface of the sea, as a plant or animal.
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Chiefly Northeastern and North Midland U.S. a hero sandwich.
adjective
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situated, occurring, operating, or living under the surface of the sea.
a submarine mountain.
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of, relating to, or carried on by a submarine or submarines.
submarine warfare.
verb (used without object)
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to participate in the operating of a submarine.
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to move or slide under something.
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Slang.
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to be thrown under the steering wheel of the vehicle one is driving during a frontal crash.
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to be thrown out of one's seat belt in such a crash.
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verb (used with object)
noun
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Often shortened to: sub. a vessel, esp one designed for warfare, capable of operating for protracted periods below the surface of the sea
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(modifier)
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of or relating to a submarine
a submarine captain
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occurring or situated below the surface of the sea
a submarine cable
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Regionalisms
See hero sandwich.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of submarine
1640–50; 1895–1900 submarine for def. 1; sub- + marine
Explanation
If you're in the Navy, a submarine is a military ship that goes under the water. If you're hungry, it's a type of sandwich. This word mainly refers to a vessel that travels underwater and is armed with torpedoes — also known as a U-boat. But you can submarine someone by attacking them with a submarine or bringing them down with a blow to the legs. A disappointment can submarine — or sink — your hopes and dreams. In the kitchen, a submarine is what you call a long, crusty sandwich filled with meats and cheese — also known as a sub, grinder, hero, or hoagie.
Vocabulary lists containing submarine
Power Prefix: sub-
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World War I
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"Hitching a Ride"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The deal has faced scrutiny over whether slow submarine production rates in the United States and Britain will leave Australia without the submarines it needs by 2040.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
The United States Navy will deploy a nuclear-powered submarine squadron to a strategic Australian navy port this year, Canberra's defence minister said on Friday.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
“As of 1855, construction of overland telegraph systems had become standardized,” Mr. Tabor writes, but “no such standard existed for submarine telegraph lines, especially those running through salt water.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
A former environment minister will head up a crowd-funded review of the multi-billion-dollar Aukus submarine deal, Australia's biggest ever defence project.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
He even told them that he arrived in the United States on a submarine.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
