rubbed; rubbing
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)
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
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
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
Synonyms
Verb
Noun
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
See More
Recent Examples on the WebAdam Dolge, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
As the year rolls on, some of us are still constantly sneezing and fighting the urge to rub our itchy, bloodshot eyes with the changing of the seasons.
—Kelsey Castañon, refinery29.com, 14 Sep. 2023
Next, remove any branches that cross or rub one another.
—oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2023
Bradberry’s teammates didn’t appreciate Smith-Schuster rubbing their faces in it, too, especially after Bradberry had been mature and accountable for a penalty that most football fans hated.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Jewelry rubbing against each other causes problems.
—Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
One behavior in particular is a rolling motion in which the animal flips on its back to rub against the sand, which has been seen numerous times from an aerial view since it was first noticed last summer but witnessed few times in the water.
—Ana Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023
Season the corn: To prepare this quick and easy side dish, rub ears of corn with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2023
Coppola flips the balance here to an extent that risks rubbing hardcore Elvis fans the wrong way, putting the performer in a less-than-flattering though never unfair light.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
Katie Camero, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2023
Garlic powder: Essential to the flavor of a barbecue rub.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 5 June 2023
In today's recipe, the salmon’s flavor is enhanced by the mustard sauce and a rub made with parsley, herbs and oil.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2023
Take the classic example of when your feline rolls over and exposes its belly, as if asking for a tummy rub.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2023
The fragrant, orange-hued rub is predominantly due to paprika, enhanced with a few other spices.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
The tip-off to a tree like this is the ancillary sign nearby; look for droppings, rubs, scrapes, and kicked up leaves and grass left by feeding deer.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 20 July 2023
Yet How Long to Marinate Chicken For dry rub marinades, 30 minutes to 2 hours is how long to marinate chicken to allow the flavors to penetrate enough of the chicken to add flavor.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2023
Along with his wife and business partner Heather, Davis now combines central Texas-style techniques with Arizona spices and rubs made from scratch, all cooked over Arizona oak.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2023
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Verb
Sprinkle pork chops evenly with chile powder mixture, and rub until well coated.
—Adam Dolge, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2023
As the year rolls on, some of us are still constantly sneezing and fighting the urge to rub our itchy, bloodshot eyes with the changing of the seasons.
—Kelsey Castañon, refinery29.com, 14 Sep. 2023
Next, remove any branches that cross or rub one another.
—oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2023
Bradberry’s teammates didn’t appreciate Smith-Schuster rubbing their faces in it, too, especially after Bradberry had been mature and accountable for a penalty that most football fans hated.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Jewelry rubbing against each other causes problems.
—Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
One behavior in particular is a rolling motion in which the animal flips on its back to rub against the sand, which has been seen numerous times from an aerial view since it was first noticed last summer but witnessed few times in the water.
—Ana Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023
Season the corn: To prepare this quick and easy side dish, rub ears of corn with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2023
Coppola flips the balance here to an extent that risks rubbing hardcore Elvis fans the wrong way, putting the performer in a less-than-flattering though never unfair light.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023
Noun
Castor oil has long been considered a jack-of-all-trades home remedy, used as a laxative, a moisturizer and as a chest rub to ease lung congestion.
—Katie Camero, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2023
Garlic powder: Essential to the flavor of a barbecue rub.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 5 June 2023
In today's recipe, the salmon’s flavor is enhanced by the mustard sauce and a rub made with parsley, herbs and oil.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2023
Take the classic example of when your feline rolls over and exposes its belly, as if asking for a tummy rub.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Aug. 2023
The fragrant, orange-hued rub is predominantly due to paprika, enhanced with a few other spices.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2023
The tip-off to a tree like this is the ancillary sign nearby; look for droppings, rubs, scrapes, and kicked up leaves and grass left by feeding deer.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 20 July 2023
Yet How Long to Marinate Chicken For dry rub marinades, 30 minutes to 2 hours is how long to marinate chicken to allow the flavors to penetrate enough of the chicken to add flavor.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 July 2023
Along with his wife and business partner Heather, Davis now combines central Texas-style techniques with Arizona spices and rubs made from scratch, all cooked over Arizona oak.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 25 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rub.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of rub was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing rub
Articles Related to rub
Dictionary Entries Near rub
Cite this Entry
“Rub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
rub
1 of 2 verb
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 noun1
a
: something that gets in the way : difficulty
b
: something that is annoying
2
: the act of rubbing
Medical Definition
rub
noun1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on rub
Nglish: Translation of rub for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rub for Arabic Speakers
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