grub

1 of 3

verb

ˈgrəb 

grubbed; grubbing

transitive verb

1

: to clear by digging up roots and stumps

2

: to dig up by or as if by the roots

intransitive verb

1

a

: to dig in the ground especially for something that is difficult to find or extract

b

: to search about

… grubbed in the countryside for food …

—The Lamp

2

: toil, drudge

Grubbing along at newspaper jobs …

—Walter Kirn

grubber noun

grub

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: a soft thick wormlike larva of an insect (such as a beetle)

2

a

: one who does menial work : drudge

b

: a slovenly person

3

: food

I'm hungry. Let's get some grub.

grubber

3 of 3

noun (2)

grub·​ber

ˈgrəbə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that grubs: such as

a

: one that digs in the ground

controlling her spinning maids and the grubbers in the walled garden

—Sinclair Lewis

b

: a laborious or plodding worker : drudge

the private browsing grounds of historical grubbers

c

: money-grubber

the grubbers … almost unceasingly preoccupied with money

—New Republic

d(1)

: a hand tool (as a grub ax) for use in grubbing

(2)

British : a cultivator that breaks up the surface of land by digging : chisel entry 2 sense 2

e(1)

: a person who grubs up trees, stumps, or brush

(2)

: an implement (as a grub hook) for grubbing up trees, stumps, or brush

2

: bonefish sense 1

Synonyms of grub

Verb

• labor
• struggle
• work
• strive
• slave
• plow
• try

Noun (1)

• food
• provisions
• eats
• bread

Examples of grub in a Sentence

Verb

Everyone was grubbing for whatever food they could find.

students grubbing for better grades

Noun (1)

Let's go get some grub.

after the game, we headed to the diner for some hearty grub

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Double-bass glissandos hint at hands grubbing in the earth, while abrupt moments of concerted action—notably, an accordion wheezing out an F-sharp-minor chord—suggest flickering signals and transmissions. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026

Despite his esoteric interests, Machen grubbed up a career as a popular and prolific author. —Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Noun

In spring and summer, the abundance of beetles, crickets, grasshoppers and grubs provide a high protein source of food for skunks. —Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026

Reduce Nematodes While nematodes can help combat grubs, too many of them can be detrimental. —Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English grubben; akin to Old English grafan to dig — more at grave

Noun (1)

Middle English grubbe, from grubben

Noun (2)

Middle English, from grubben to grub + -er

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grub

• cattle grub
• common cattle grub
• white grub

Rhymes for grub

• bub
• club
• cub
• dub
• hub
• nub
• pub
• rub
• scrub
• shrub
• snub
• stub

Kids Definition

grub

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrəb 

grubbed; grubbing

1

: to clear or root out by digging

grub up roots

grub for potatoes

2

: to work hard : drudge

grubber noun

grub

2 of 2 noun

1

: a soft thick wormlike larva of an insect (as a beetle)

2

a

: drudge entry 2

b

: an untidy or dirty person

3

: food sense 1

Medical Definition

grub

noun

ˈgrəb 

: a soft thick wormlike larva of an insect