ribbing

noun

rib·​bing ˈri-biŋ How to pronounce ribbing (audio)
: an arrangement of ribs

Examples of ribbing in a Sentence

a little good-natured ribbing between friends the ribbing on a sweater
Recent Examples on the Web The night of the Globes, Winslet laughed at Gervais’ ribbing, as did many in the crowd. Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024 Yet the two friends’ disagreements rarely spill out in orderly dogmatic debates, but rather in the provocative ribbing and friendly antagonism of men who focus more on their similarities than their differences. Jennifer Medina, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024 Elsewhere in the collection are high-neck sweaters with wide horizontal ribbing and wool boucle jacquard knits—reminiscent of Lorenzo’s Essentials line—that are ideal for layering. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 2 Feb. 2024 Additionally, the blending base features internal ribbing and a bell shape, which lower suction, resulting in more efficient blending and control. Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2024 As with all siblings, spiritual or otherwise, there's plenty of good-natured ribbing — sometimes literally. EW.com, 6 Nov. 2023 The ribbing is ultrafine and adds texture without overwhelming the design, and what sets this dress apart is the gorgeous hourglass ribbed detailing at the waistline. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2023 At the Golden Globes on Sunday, host Jo Koy came back from a commercial break with a little ribbing on Swift and her relationship with Travis Kelce. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2024 Kate Middleton and Prince William are not against some lighthearted ribbing — especially on each other! Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ribbing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ribbing was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near ribbing

Cite this Entry

“Ribbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ribbing. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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