rub up
verb
rubbed up; rubbing up; rubs up
1
: to revive or refresh knowledge of : recall
2
: to improve the keenness of (a mental faculty)
Examples of rub up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Asked about this, Wallach told Inside Climate News that a tiger rubbing up against its fencing is not upset.
—
Katie Surma, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026
The only sounds in your private pavilion are birdsong and a symphony of critters as nature rubs up against the swaths of pale stone and marble.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Your emotional needs rub up against your personal limits today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
That rubbed up against Global North countries that were saying the world was changing.
—Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub up
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Katie Surma, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026
The only sounds in your private pavilion are birdsong and a symphony of critters as nature rubs up against the swaths of pale stone and marble.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Your emotional needs rub up against your personal limits today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 May 2026
That rubbed up against Global North countries that were saying the world was changing.
—Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for rub up
Cite this Entry
“Rub up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rub%20up. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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