often attributive
scrubbed; scrubbing
1
2
1
: to use hard rubbing in cleaning
2
: to prepare for performing surgery by scrubbing oneself
1
: an act or instance of scrubbing
especially
: cancellation
2
a
: one that scrubs
b
: a powerful and especially cosmetic cleanser
3
scrubs plural
: loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff
surgical scrubs
Synonyms
Examples of scrub in a Sentence
Verb
We scrubbed and scrubbed until the floor was clean.
They scrubbed the game because of the bad weather.
Recent Examples on the Web
Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024
The first scrub on Tuesday was due to issues with the oxidizer tank in the rocket’s central power unit, while Wednesday’s scrub was caused by a glitch in the engine start control system, according to The Moscow Times.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
During migration season in Arizona, these hummingbirds can be observed in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub and riparian areas.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Kapoor explained lip scrubs exfoliate the skin, specifically the stratum corneum.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
In the first slide, Eric showed a photo of himself from the waist down wearing hospital scrubs.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Without interrupting your pH balance, the Date Night Tincture scrub pairs well with the moisture-inducing Wet Martini capsules.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024
Steer clear of strong fragrances, scrubs, toners, and astringents.
—Cindy Kuzma, Health, 16 Mar. 2024
Whether that be in the form of dry brushing, an enzyme mask, or a glycolic body scrub, every part of our body deserves to be resurfaced.
—Samantha Mims, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
About 25 cooks and dishwashers are in the kitchen during each shift, and at 8 in the morning the space already hummed with the sound of staff members’ scrubbing down surfaces with soapy water.
—Marcela Valdes. Photographs and Videos By Peden + Munk, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Apple also added accessibility enhancements, such as letting the program announce the playhead position when recording, playing back, and scrubbing audio.
—PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
Reese, who scrubbed Fletcher, 21, from her Instagram account, also seemingly elaborated on why the two split.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Don’t use soap, detergent or a commercial soak or scrub, however, as they have not been proven to be any more effective, according to the FDA.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
The news would get out eventually, so the team decided to scrub the image of sensitive data and release it.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
After Boston Children’s Hospital received bomb threats over providing gender-affirming care, more than 20 hospitals scrubbed information about these services from their websites.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 11 Mar. 2024
Gloria’s usually a one-woman show on her daytime shift, cooking and scrubbing floors and ringing up orders.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The area also has an indoor hammam experience, followed by a pink Himalayan salt scrub and a cool shower.
—Annie Archer, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2024
The first scrub on Tuesday was due to issues with the oxidizer tank in the rocket’s central power unit, while Wednesday’s scrub was caused by a glitch in the engine start control system, according to The Moscow Times.
—George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024
During migration season in Arizona, these hummingbirds can be observed in a variety of habitats, including desert scrub and riparian areas.
—The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
Kapoor explained lip scrubs exfoliate the skin, specifically the stratum corneum.
—Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024
In the first slide, Eric showed a photo of himself from the waist down wearing hospital scrubs.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
Without interrupting your pH balance, the Date Night Tincture scrub pairs well with the moisture-inducing Wet Martini capsules.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024
Steer clear of strong fragrances, scrubs, toners, and astringents.
—Cindy Kuzma, Health, 16 Mar. 2024
Whether that be in the form of dry brushing, an enzyme mask, or a glycolic body scrub, every part of our body deserves to be resurfaced.
—Samantha Mims, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
After scrubbing, rinse the grates and drain the water.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
About 25 cooks and dishwashers are in the kitchen during each shift, and at 8 in the morning the space already hummed with the sound of staff members’ scrubbing down surfaces with soapy water.
—Marcela Valdes. Photographs and Videos By Peden + Munk, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Apple also added accessibility enhancements, such as letting the program announce the playhead position when recording, playing back, and scrubbing audio.
—PCMAG, 22 Mar. 2024
Reese, who scrubbed Fletcher, 21, from her Instagram account, also seemingly elaborated on why the two split.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Don’t use soap, detergent or a commercial soak or scrub, however, as they have not been proven to be any more effective, according to the FDA.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024
The news would get out eventually, so the team decided to scrub the image of sensitive data and release it.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
After Boston Children’s Hospital received bomb threats over providing gender-affirming care, more than 20 hospitals scrubbed information about these services from their websites.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 11 Mar. 2024
Gloria’s usually a one-woman show on her daytime shift, cooking and scrubbing floors and ringing up orders.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scrub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near scrub
Cite this Entry
“Scrub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrub. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scrub
1 of 3 noun1
a
: a thick growth of small or stunted shrubs or trees
b
: an area of land covered with scrub
2
: a domestic animal of mixed or unknown parentage and usually inferior build
3
: a person of small size or low social rank
4
: a player not belonging to the first string
scrub
adjective
scrub
2 of 3 verb
scrubbed; scrubbing
: to rub hard in cleaning or washing
scrub clothes
scrubber
noun
scrub
3 of 3 noun
: an act or instance of scrubbing
Medical Definition
scrub
1 of 2 verb
scrubbed; scrubbing
: to clean and disinfect (the hands and forearms) before participating in surgery
: to prepare for surgery by scrubbing oneself
scrub
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or instance of scrubbing
a surgical scrub
2
plural
: loose-fitting clothing worn by hospital staff
surgical scrubs
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