rubbed; rubbing
1
a
: to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate
"Earthquakes … are caused when two tectonic plates … come into contact … and one plate bangs into another or rubs alongside it …"—
Alistair MacLean
Alistair MacLean
b(1)
: to fret or chafe with or as if with friction
The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
(2)
: to cause discontent, irritation, or anger
… it rubs to be presided over by a vast … paternal Indifference.—R. W. Flint
R. W. Flint2
: to continue in a situation usually with slight difficulty
in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along
3
: to respond to being rubbed (as for erasure or obliteration)
The ink rubs off.
1
a
: to subject to or as if to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction
rubbed his sore muscles
—often used with together
b(1)
: to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface
He was rubbing grubby little knuckles in his eyes …—Thomas B. Costain
Thomas B. Costain
(2)
: to treat in any of various ways by rubbing
rub the fish with seasonings
c
: to bring into reciprocal back-and-forth or rotary contact
rubbed two sticks together to start a fire
1
a
: an unevenness of surface (as of the ground in lawn bowling)
b
: obstruction, difficulty
The rub is that so few of the scholars have any sense of this truth themselves.—Benjamin Farrington
Benjamin Farrington
c
: something grating to the feelings (such as a gibe or harsh criticism)
d
: something that mars serenity
2
: the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub
3
US
: a combination of spices that is rubbed into the surface of meat before the meat is cooked
used a dry rub on the pork ribs
Examples of rub in a Sentence
Verb
Could you rub my shoulders?
He blinked and rubbed his eyes.
The cat rubbed itself against my leg.
The cat rubbed against my leg.
Don't rub too hard or you'll tear the paper.
He rubbed his hands with glee.
There was a squeak when the boards rubbed together.
The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel and giving me a blister.
There are marks where the chair has rubbed against the wall.
There are marks where the chair has been rubbing the wall.
Noun
She's an amazing cook, but she rarely has time to make meals. There's the rub.
He used his favorite rub on the steaks.
a dry rub for chicken
Recent Examples on the Web
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
The clips allegedly showed Hanson urinating on food, spitting into containers, stomping on food items and rubbing them on his body before they were served to customers, per court documents and reporting by KCTV5, KMBC 9 and The Kansas City Star.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
It’s filled with global flavors and spice mixes for a variety of different meals, including barbecue rubs, Mediterranean blends, Italian blends, steak rubs, and more.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
For mirrors, apply a small amount of WD-40 to a microfiber cloth first, and then use it to rub water spots in a circular motion.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
The clips allegedly showed Hanson urinating on food, spitting into containers, stomping on food items and rubbing them on his body before they were served to customers, per court documents and reporting by KCTV5, KMBC 9 and The Kansas City Star.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
The chicken restaurant’s third mascot, Raising Cane III, loves visiting Raising Cane’s restaurants and getting belly rubs from crew members, the company said online.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
It’s filled with global flavors and spice mixes for a variety of different meals, including barbecue rubs, Mediterranean blends, Italian blends, steak rubs, and more.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rub
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rub
1 of 2 verb
rubbed; rubbing
1
a
: to move along the surface of a body with pressure
b
: to wear away or chafe with friction
2
: to scour, polish, erase, spread, or smear by pressure and friction
rub
2 of 2 noun1
a
: something that gets in the way : difficulty
b
: something that is annoying
2
: the act of rubbing
Medical Definition
rub
noun1
: the application of friction with pressure
an alcohol rub
2
: a sound heard in auscultation that is produced by the friction of one structure moving against another
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