1. Home
2. Idioms
3. subscribe to

subscribe to

---

---

subscribe to something

 

1. to agree with a policy. I don't subscribe to the scheme you have just described. You don't have to subscribe to the policy to accept it.

2. to hold a standing order for a magazine or other periodical, or for a computer service. I subscribe to three magazines, and I enjoy them all. I don't subscribe to any of them anymore.

subscribe to something

to agree with or support an opinion, belief, or theory I subscribe to the notion of lying down when the urge to exercise strikes me.

subscribe to

1. Contract to receive and pay for a given number of issues of a periodical, for tickets to a series of performances, or for a utility service. For example, We subscribe to the local paper, or Betty and I have been subscribing to this concert series for years, or We have no choice; we have to subscribe to the local power company.

2. Feel or express approval of, as in I subscribe to your opinion but I don't think Donald does. [Mid-1500s]

3. Promise to pay or contribute money to, as in We subscribe to many charities. [Mid-1600s] All of these usages come from subscribe in the sense of "sign one's name to something, such as a pledge."

subscribe to

v.

1. To have some periodical delivered or made available on a regular basis: Since you're building a lot of furniture, you should subscribe to the new woodworking magazine that comes out every month. I subscribe to an Internet news site.

2. To feel or express hearty approval for something: Corporal punishment is not an idea I personally subscribe to, but I can see how others might approve of it.