subsume

verb

sub·​sume səb-ˈsüm How to pronounce subsume (audio)
subsumed; subsuming
Synonyms of subsume

transitive verb

: to include or place within something larger or more comprehensive : encompass as a subordinate or component element
red, green, and yellow are subsumed under the term "color"
subsumable
səb-ˈsü-mə-bəl How to pronounce subsume (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of subsume

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Examples of subsume in a Sentence

games and team sports are subsumed under the classification of “recreation”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With humanity’s ecological interchange with nature subsumed and directed by capital’s endless circuits of accumulation, the exploitation of natural resources and the aggregation of waste ensues. — Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026 Whereas Bo Bardi displaces her building to surrender the ground, Zumthor subsumes the city in an attempt to become it. — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 Following the merger of Banijay Entertainment and RedBird IMI’s All3 assets, All3MI was subsumed into Banijay Rights, though the All3 business has continued to announce deals ahead of MIPCOM Cannes in October. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026 Each presents a group portrait of a handful of disaffected British suburbanites—husbands who resent their deadening jobs, toddlers who whine and interrupt, and, above all, hassled wives subsumed by a crush of household obligations. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subsume

Word History

Etymology

New Latin subsumere, from Latin sub- + sumere to take up — more at consume

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subsume was in 1818

Rhymes for subsume

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Browse Nearby Words

subsumable
subsume
subsummation
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Cite this Entry

“Subsume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsume. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

subsume

verb
sub·​sume səb-ˈsüm How to pronounce subsume (audio)
subsumed; subsuming
: to include or place within something larger or more general
red and green are subsumed under the term "color"
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