rub

verb \ ˈrəb \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

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

Furniture For upholstered furniture, put on a pair of rubber gloves, wet them with water and rub your hand over the surface to attract fur.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Secrets for Removing Pet Hair From Yourself, Your Furniture and More," 12 Apr. 2018
It has been confirmed that Smith did not intervene despite full knowledge that the team’s vice captain, David Warner, was instructing Cameron Bancroft, the most junior player, to rub sandpaper on the ball, altering its aerodynamics.

— tim wigmore, New York Times, "Australian Cricket Has Its Own Deflategate, and a Nation Reels," 2 Apr. 2018
The finding has sparked many questions, given that New England is not located along an active plate margin (where one tectonic plate rubs against another) but sits squarely in the middle of the North American plate.

— shannon hall, Scientific American, "New England Is Sitting on a Bed of Hot Rocks," 1 Apr. 2018
For more highlighter magic: Want to rub more jewels on your face?

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Almay Make Them Jelly Hi-Lite Is the Dewiest Drugstore Highlighter," 6 Feb. 2018
Tiny pork riblets may be the gateway meat: dry-rubbed, with a hint of sweetness, the flesh separates from the bones with little effort or interference.

— mike sula, Chicago Reader, "As Chinatown bleeds into Bridgeport, a new generation of young restaurateurs emerges," 30 Jan. 2018
The insane dance of grizzly bears rubbing on trees!

— lincoln michel, GQ, "Planet Earth II Is Now on Netflix," 7 Jan. 2018
Blackish stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross chatted on a banquette while Dakota Johnson rubbed Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s pregnant belly nearby.

— julie miller, HWD, "Vanity Fair Oscar Party Report: Emma Stone, Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel, and More Let Loose," 27 Feb. 2017
The players previously said Bancroft used a piece of yellow adhesive tape covered with dirt to rub on the ball.

— gerald imray, Fox News, "Ball tampering plot: Smith, Warner banned for 12 months," 28 Mar. 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

At the opening of the London Book Fair on Tuesday, a mobile massage company set up a row of stools for anyone in need of a shoulder and neck rub.

— david segal, New York Times, "British Book Publishers Fear Brexit Will Bring a U.S. Invasion," 13 Apr. 2018
Made to stand up to Bangkok’s debilitating humidity, Snake Brand Prickly Heat Cooling Powder ($8 at amazon.com), a next-level chub-rub antidote, feels tingly between the thighs.

— lauren levy, The Cut, "The Everything Guide to Staying Cool at a Summer Wedding," 12 Apr. 2018
Let cool and rub another very light coat of oil all over before storing.

— christina chaey, Bon Appetit, "Cast-Iron Skillets: How to Season, Clean, and Cook with Them FOREVER," 5 Apr. 2018
Hugs lasted longer; pats on the back turned into back rubs.

— anna callaghan, Outside Online, "The Best Fleeces for Women," 21 Mar. 2018
Also, there were rodent rub marks on the back wall next to a window and the wall next to the walk-in cooler.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Poop in the oven, live rodents, dead rodents — and 12 restaurants are shut down | Miami Herald," 26 Feb. 2018
And therein lies the rub: Money is limited and there is a lot of demand for that money.

— paul gattis, AL.com, "Rep. Mo Brooks to Gov. Kay Ivey: Widen I-565 in Huntsville," 26 Mar. 2018
But its strength lies in quieter gestures—a rub of the head, an anxious stroke of the ear.

— The Economist, "The making of a Shakespearean actor," 15 Mar. 2018
With all the flavor from the dry rub your really don’t need any sauce at all.

— larry olmsted, USA TODAY, "Nashville's destination dry ribs," 22 Feb. 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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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rub Spanish Central: Translation of rub Nglish: Translation of rub for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rub for Arabic speakers

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rub

Definition of rub

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Origin and Etymology of rub

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rub

Definition of rub

Examples of rub in a Sentence

Recent Examples of rub from the Web

First Known Use of rub

rub Synonyms

Synonyms

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RUB Defined for English Language Learners

rub

Definition of rub for English Language Learners

rub

Definition of rub for English Language Learners

RUB Defined for Kids

rub

Definition of rub for Students

rub

Definition of rub for Students

Medical Dictionary

rub

medical Definition of rub

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