Reuben

1 of 3

noun (1)

Reu·​ben ˈrü-bən 

: a son of Jacob and the traditional eponymous ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel

Reuben

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural Reubens

: a grilled sandwich of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut usually on rye bread compare rachel entry 2

Reuben

3 of 3

noun (3)

: a statuette awarded annually by a professional organization for notable achievement in cartoon artistry

Examples of Reuben in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When the Reuben Gallery closed, in 1961, many of its male artists found other galleries to represent them, but not Drexler. — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

For a taste of Boise history, now is a good time to visit the dining room for a Reuben sandwich or a slice of prime rib. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026

Earlier this year, 88-year-old property magnate David Reuben and his brother Simon made headlines after leaving London for the sunny shores of Monaco. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

For years, Reuben was navigating moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause, both day and night, with constant uncertainty of when the next one might strike. — Partner Content, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Hebrew Rĕ'ūbhēn

Noun (2)

probably from Reuben Kulakofsky †1960 American grocer

Noun (3)

Reuben L. Goldberg †1970 American cartoonist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1956, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Reuben

• rubin
• bilirubin