submarine
Americannoun
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submarines
plural
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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.
See Examples For:
Vizag is a landing point for submarine internet cables linking the country to Singapore, so for India, the location of the 600-acre site -- more than 340 football pitches -- is ideal.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
Its arrival coincided with the 125th anniversary of the launch of Holland 1, the Royal Navy's first submarine..
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Floating dry docks are structures that can be submerged to allow a ship or submarine to enter.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
UC-30 was carrying 18 mines and six torpedoes, leaving the submarine packed with explosives.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
On February 26, after two Americans were drowned in the sinking of the British liner Laconia by a German submarine, Wilson asked Congress for permission to begin arming American merchant ships.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
To meet this need, the military would probably perfect small modular reactors, just as they did long ago with nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Beijing has to assume the stealthy submarines could be in the region at any time, which enhances deterrence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Navy would be lucky to reach its fleet goal of 66 attack submarines in several decades, and in 2024 only 31 of 47 were operationally ready, according to the Congressional Research Service.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Astute-class submarines are the Navy's most advanced and powerful class of attack subs.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Elizebeth also had to search for signs of hostile actions—anything from a foreign warship laying mines to submarines behaving strangely off the American coastline.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
The historical odds will be against the Nets, who have been submarined by Durant’s January knee sprain, Harden’s February departure and Irving’s part-time availability because of his unvaccinated status.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 28, 2022
Theoretically, those Sunday figures could be submarined by a handful of meaningless rounds where Finau was never in the tournament mix.
From Golf Digest ● Feb. 3, 2020
A seven-run second inning submarined the Mariners’ victory hopes early in what ended up being a 13-3 rout.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2019
Twice in the last six weeks, Johnson has submarined the Lakers by being out front without being up front.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 2019
The Marchioness of Strathdene and her airy husband reached England without being submarined, and there, to her great surprise, Kedzie found a whole new universe of things not quite right.
From We Can't Have Everything by Rupert Hughes
The Cyclones shot 32% in the second half, submarining their own cause further by turning the ball over 18 times.
From Fox News ● Mar. 26, 2022
Quisenberry, a submarining closer with a world-class wit, won five Rolaids Relief Man awards for the Royals in the 1980s.
From New York Times ● Feb. 24, 2022
Chicago had the bases loaded with one out when submarining right-hander Tyler Rogers caught Willson Contreras looking at an 84 mph fastball on a 3-2 count.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 12, 2021
Since 1995, patent terms last for 20 years from the date of application, making the submarining strategy impractical.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 6, 2021
But instead I am this sphere of darkness submarining through the halls.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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