rub

1 of 2

verb

ˈrəb 

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

2 of 2

noun

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

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Verb

• wear
• erode
• fray

Noun

• headache
• thorn
• worry
• nuisance
• frustration

Examples of rub in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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 on the Web

Verb

Once the eggs are harvested, they’re gently rubbed over a metal screen to remove them from the fish’s ovaries, then rinsed, dried and salted before being packed away in blue tins. —Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025

Gently rub while rinsing to remove any dirt or excess fuzz. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 28 June 2025

Noun

Coat wings in olive oil and add dry rub spreading evenly on both sides. —Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Now just napping all day long on the couch with mama and getting free head rubs. —Andrea Wurzburger, People.com, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing rub

• back rub
• rub along
• rub elbows with
• rub in
• rub off
• rub out
• rub salt in/into someone's wounds
• rub salt in/into the wound
• rub shoulders with
• rub someone's nose in
• rub (someone) up the wrong way
• rub up
• Therein/There lies the rub
• the rub

Rhymes for rub

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

Kids Definition

rub

1 of 2 verb

ˈrəb 

rubbed; rubbing

1

a

: to move along the surface of a body with pressure

b

: to wear away or chafe with friction

2

: to scour, polish, erase, spread, or smear by pressure and friction

rub

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: something that gets in the way : difficulty

b

: something that is annoying

2

: the act of rubbing

Medical Definition

rub

noun

ˈrəb 

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