rub

verb \ ˈrəb \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: rub in a Sentence

Definition of rub

rubbed; rubbing

intransitive verb

1 a : to move along the surface of a body with pressure : grate

b (1) : to fret or chafe with or as if with friction

(2) : to cause discontent, irritation, or anger

2 : to continue in a situation usually with slight difficulty

in spite of financial difficulties, he is rubbing along

3 : to admit of being rubbed (as for erasure or obliteration)

transitive verb

1 a : to subject to or as if to the action of something moving especially back and forth with pressure and friction

b (1) : to cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface

(2) : to treat in any of various ways by rubbing

c : to bring into reciprocal back-and-forth or rotary contact

2 : annoy, irritate

— rub elbows or rub shoulders

: to associate closely : mingle

— rub one's nose in

: to bring forcefully or repeatedly to one's attention

— rub the wrong way

: antagonize, irritate

See rub defined for English-language learners

See rub defined for kids

Examples of rub in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of rub from the Web

Then, Joseph's mom started rubbing the blood on Proffitt's hand.

— keith bierygolick, Cincinnati.com, "Middletown teen’s shooting death: Russian roulette, gangs and a mother’s warning," 7 June 2018
While still warm, peel the skin off each beet by rubbing the skin with paper towels.

— jennifer mcclellan, azcentral, "Recipes: Summer salads from Arizona chef show it's a great time to eat healthy," 5 June 2018
Clean and oil grate and rub swordfish steaks with 2 Tbsp.

— andy baraghani, Bon Appetit, "Grilled Swordfish with Charred Leeks and Citrus," 28 May 2018
Instead, parents should try gently rubbing the gums of teething children or giving them a firm — not frozen — rubber teething ring, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "Don't Use Baby Teething Medicine With Benzocaine, the FDA Warns," 23 May 2018
And cameras caught the pair chatting and Tindall rubbing his wife's pregnant belly once inside the event.

— kate storey, Town & Country, "Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall Just Shared the Sweetest PDA Moment at the Royal Wedding," 19 May 2018
This deep sea corridor, 25,000 feet below the surface at its lowest point, was created by continental plates rubbing against each other over millions of years.

— erik heinrich, BostonGlobe.com, "Kittiwake wreck dive and Stingray City are unforgettable adventures – even if you do get bit," 16 May 2018
Use a sharp knife to cut off the top 1 inch of artichoke, then rub with the cut side of the lemon.

— melissa clark, charlotteobserver, "Diving into the delicious mess that is the artichoke | Charlotte Observer," 15 May 2018
When two different materials repeatedly collide with, or rub against, one another, the surface of one material can steal electrons from the surface of the other, accumulating a charge, a phenomenon known as triboelectricity.

— charles q. choi, The Atlantic, "Your Heartbeat Could Power a Smartphone," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rub.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rub

Middle English rubben; akin to East Frisian rubben to rub, scrape, Icelandic rubba to scrape

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

rub Synonyms

Synonyms

abrade, chafe, corrade, erode, fray, frazzle, fret, gall, rasp, wear;

erase, reduce, rub out, wear out, wipe (away);

bite, break down, break up, chew, corrode, decompose, disintegrate, dissolve, eat;

hone, sharpen, whet;

rub

noun

Definition of rub

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

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

See rub defined for English-language learners

Examples of rub in a Sentence

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 of rub from the Web

Here’s the rub: the study used data from 1988-1996, before the internet really took hold of news distribution.

— ellen mcgirt, Fortune, "raceAhead: The CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Turns Two and Five Breaking News Haikus," 8 June 2018
But, and here’s the rub, discounts are not always trumpeted.

— logan jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Seniors, don't discount importance of being curious," 3 May 2018
The signature jerk chicken is well done and drier, first massaged in a spice rub then marinated in a blend of soy sauce, scallions, Scotch bonnet peppers, celery and garlic.

— linda bladholm, miamiherald, "The jerk chicken, fish and ribs at this North Miami spot are for spicy, barbecue lovers | Miami Herald," 28 Feb. 2018
The jerk chicken is marinated in a wet, housemade jerk spice rub before being cooked over pimento wood.

— brett anderson, NOLA.com, "Jerk chicken (and pork and fish) is easy today to find in New Orleans," 30 Jan. 2018
In a small bowl, combine chili powder, salt, and pepper and rub mixture all over pork roast until thoroughly coated.

— Country Living, "Pulled Pork and Biscuits," 30 Nov. 2011
Sometimes the ball, the rub of the grass, just doesn’t go your way that night.

— jordan culver, Pro Soccer USA, "Orlando City rookie Chris Mueller not focused on individual success," 24 May 2018
But the rub is that some firms have been able to find women to place in positions in power.

— theodore schleifer, Recode, "Venture capital firms are running to hire their first female general partners," 23 May 2018
The group didn't go so far as to pledge the dollars the state won't, and there's the rub.

— rochelle riley, Detroit Free Press, "Is Michigan business leaders' small step toward education reform enough?," 25 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of rub

1577

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

rub Synonyms

RUB Defined for English Language Learners

rub

verb

Definition of rub for English Language Learners

: to move something (such as your hand or an object) back and forth along the surface of (something) while pressing
: to move (two things) back and forth against each other
: to move back and forth many times against something in a way that causes pain or damage

rub

noun

Definition of rub for English Language Learners

: an act of rubbing a surface with your hands or an object
the rub : something that causes a difficulty or problem
: a combination of spices that is rubbed into the surface of meat before the meat is cooked

RUB Defined for Kids

rub

verb \ ˈrəb \

Definition of rub for Students

rubbed; rubbing

1 : to move along the surface of something with pressure

Kitty rubbed against my legs.

2 : to move back and forth against something in a way that causes pain or damage The back of my shoe is rubbing against my heel.

3 : to scour, polish, or smear by pressure and friction

He rubbed oil on the wood.

— rub elbows with

: to meet and talk with in a friendly way

Stink got to rub elbows with the president …
—Megan McDonald, Judy Moody

— rub in

: to keep reminding someone of (something unpleasant)

I know I looked silly. Don't rub it in.

— rub off

: to come off a surface and often stick to another surface by rubbing

The ink rubbed off on my fingers.

— rub the wrong way

: to cause to be angry : irritate

rub

noun

Definition of rub for Students

1 : the act of rubbing

a back rub

2 : something that causes a problem

Medical Dictionary

rub

noun \ ˈrəb \

medical Definition of rub

1 : 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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rub

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rub

Definition of rub

Examples of rub in a Sentence

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rub Synonyms

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RUB Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of rub for English Language Learners

rub

Definition of rub for English Language Learners

RUB Defined for Kids

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Definition of rub for Students

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Definition of rub for Students

Medical Dictionary

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medical Definition of rub

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